U.S. airlines, after hiring nearly 194,000 employees since 2021, are now slowing down recruitment as they approach their staffing needs. Challenges like declining profits due to excess flights, rising labor costs, and delayed airplane deliveries from Boeing and Airbus are impacting their operations.

Costs at major airlines like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines have surged by over 20% since 2019, with low-cost carriers such as Southwest and Spirit seeing even greater increases.

Spirit Airlines recently furloughed 186 pilots, and United paused pilot hiring due to delayed plane deliveries. Southwest expects to reduce its workforce by 2,000 by year’s end, while American Airlines plans to hire fewer pilots than last year.

Even as airlines adjust to these challenges, training programs for aspiring pilots remain full, signaling long-term demand for air travel, despite current hiring slowdowns.