Right now, American Airlines is in union talks with their pilots union. They are promising to raise wages as they become more profitable. American has lagged behind other airlines for many years, regardless of what they tell the reporters and is printed in newspapers.
Wages are a huge concern right now as airlines try to retain the pilots they now have on their staff. It's like airlines are bidding against each other for pilots and other members of flight crews. Several flights across all airlines have been either cancelled or delayed due to lack of flight crews. For example, a flight crew may fly from New York to Dallas and have to get back on another flight at another gate within 20 minutes and fly to Boston. In normal times back when pilot numbers were not a huge issue, a fresh crew would have been available. This is one reason why you may board a plane at 3:00 for a 3:30 departure, but may not leave until 4:15. The pilots may come on the intercom and tell you, "We will be on our way shortly as soon as we finish up doing some paperwork here in the cockpit." That is not always the case. It's very possible that the pilot is waiting for the remainder of his flight crew, which is in the process of landing at the airport as he speaks.
Pilots are in demand as are all members of flight crews, including; flight attendants and baggage handlers and also Air Traffic Controllers. Flights to Florida have been problematic for airlines to get enough flights going to that destination. Just a week or so ago, ATC's in Jacksonville had decided to take a kind of call in sick day, which left airlines having to cancel flights, which was bad enough on top of the problems of already having fewer flight crews that were available to go to Florida. It could be Air Traffic Controllers are also hoping to get more money.
As an example, here is the pay scale for my former employer, United. When I retired, I was flying the Boeing 767 as a Senior Captain. If I was a young person again, male or female, I would strongly consider aviation as a career. They can learn either in the military or by going to an accredited flight training school.
https://www.aviationinterviews.com/pilot/payrates/united-airlines-61.html
Wages are a huge concern right now as airlines try to retain the pilots they now have on their staff. It's like airlines are bidding against each other for pilots and other members of flight crews. Several flights across all airlines have been either cancelled or delayed due to lack of flight crews. For example, a flight crew may fly from New York to Dallas and have to get back on another flight at another gate within 20 minutes and fly to Boston. In normal times back when pilot numbers were not a huge issue, a fresh crew would have been available. This is one reason why you may board a plane at 3:00 for a 3:30 departure, but may not leave until 4:15. The pilots may come on the intercom and tell you, "We will be on our way shortly as soon as we finish up doing some paperwork here in the cockpit." That is not always the case. It's very possible that the pilot is waiting for the remainder of his flight crew, which is in the process of landing at the airport as he speaks.
Pilots are in demand as are all members of flight crews, including; flight attendants and baggage handlers and also Air Traffic Controllers. Flights to Florida have been problematic for airlines to get enough flights going to that destination. Just a week or so ago, ATC's in Jacksonville had decided to take a kind of call in sick day, which left airlines having to cancel flights, which was bad enough on top of the problems of already having fewer flight crews that were available to go to Florida. It could be Air Traffic Controllers are also hoping to get more money.
As an example, here is the pay scale for my former employer, United. When I retired, I was flying the Boeing 767 as a Senior Captain. If I was a young person again, male or female, I would strongly consider aviation as a career. They can learn either in the military or by going to an accredited flight training school.
https://www.aviationinterviews.com/pilot/payrates/united-airlines-61.html
