United Airlines has announced plans to hire 50,000 new workers by 2026 as it gears up to increase its operations post the pandemic shutdowns. The airline anticipates to recruit 25,000 workers, including 5,000 this year, to match the numbers hired last year. With a 93,000 strong workforce this year, the company will add another 50,000 jobs by 2026. Efforts to recruit pilots and flight attendants are already underway, with 2,300 pilots recruited this year and about 500 expected to retire. United Airlines also plans to host a career fair for prospective flight attendants in Houston. The airline plans to compensate for the labor market challenges with higher wages for non-union jobs.
United Airlines has already hired 7,000 new workers since the beginning of this year, and the number is expected to increase to 15,000 by the end of 2021. Kate Gebo, the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at United Airlines, confirmed that the company is in “hiring mode.” Other airlines, like Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, are also hiring new employees to meet the surge in demand for air travel this summer.
United Airlines announced plans to hire around 3,800 workers in its Chicago base during this year, adding to its other recruitment drives in Houston and Denver. The company aims to address the aircraft maintenance gap during the summer travel surge by hiring more than 7,000 maintenance technicians by 2026. United plans to provide job opportunities for various roles, including flight attendants, pilots, and airport agents. This drive will replace retiring employees in the coming years while making efforts to offer better wage deals to non-union jobs.
Furthermore, United Airlines plans to hire 200 additional pilots every month in 2021 to fill the requirement for 13,000 pilots, mostly to replace those who left during the pandemic. United Airlines is confident that it can meet its target despite the cost and time involved in training pilots. The company also expects an increase in demand during the summer travel season in the US.
Industry jobs in the US aviation sector surged by 32% to over 480,000 to February 2021, a rise of more than 117,000, according to data from the Transportation Department. Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines also announced hiring drives since the start of this year. While Delta Air Lines has already hired 20,000 employees, it has not yet disclosed its hiring plans for 2023. Southwest Airlines targeted to hire 7,000 workers but has cut the number in the face of a shortfall in expected new jets.
In conclusion, United Airlines’ move to hire 50,000 new employees by 2026 is a significant step towards increasing its operations as pandemic restrictions ease up. The aviation sector has witnessed a rise in job opportunities, especially with the surge in travel demand expected during the summer. United Airlines plans to address its labor challenges by providing better wage deals to non-union jobs and hiring more pilots and maintenance technicians. The 3,800-job recruitment drive in Chicago is part of the company’s efforts to tackle the aircraft maintenance gap, especially during peak travel seasons.
