* Values include the number of pilots from the merger of US Airways, as well as pilots' number from wholly-owned regional carriers Envoy Air, PSA Airlines and Piedmont Airlines.
Values prior to 2021 were taken from previous editions.
The number of active pilots at American Airlines fluctuated from 2019 to 2023. In 2023, there were * active pilots working for American Airlines, up from * in the previous year. The number of pilots employed by American Airlines decreased considerably after the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
Pilot demand in the U.S.
Even though the aviation industry has been burgeoning throughout the **** century, the number of pilots does not follow the same trend. The number of pilots in the U.S. experienced two cyclical developments with a recent increasing trend between 1990 and 2020. Contrary to general intuition, the pinnacle of pilots in service in the U.S. was in 1990, with over ** pilots serving the U.S. aviation industry. During 2019, there were over ** pilots active in the U.S. aviation industry. In the upcoming two decades, it is estimated that the demand for pilots will increase by ** in the North American region. To meet the increasing demand for pilots, many people should be interested in becoming a pilot. Yet, to ascertain a continuous flow of pilots in the job market, becoming a pilot as a job must be an attractive offer to people.Â
Survey results of job satisfaction amongst pilots
A 2020 survey revealed that most of the aviation groups are concerned about the continuity of qualified pilots in the job market. For instance, roughly ** percent of senior management of low-cost carriers (LCCs) reported that they find the difficulty to ensure a stable supply of qualified pilots moderately to very challenging over the next 10 years. On the supply side, there is a multitude of issues that may trigger the low willingness of people to get an education and become a pilot. Some of the main concerns of pilots could be represented by the wellbeing of pilots at work. The nature of pilot activities imposes a high-stress and responsibility on the shoulders of each pilot. Besides, there are many business-specific stress factors from the airline groups on pilots that adversely affect the overall satisfaction of pilots. According to a survey carried out in 2019, most of the pilots stated that they do not feel that their current employers care about pilots’ wellbeing. This high-level of disposition to implicitly avoid satisfying the needs of pilots may put the continuous growth of the aviation industry at a somewhat risk.
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American Airlines. (July 2, 2024). American Airlines' number of pilots from 2019 to 2023* [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 14, 2026, from /statistics/741820/american-airlines-active-pilots/
American Airlines. "American Airlines' number of pilots from 2019 to 2023*." Chart. July 2, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 14, 2026. /statistics/741820/american-airlines-active-pilots/
American Airlines. (2024). American Airlines' number of pilots from 2019 to 2023*. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 14, 2026. /statistics/741820/american-airlines-active-pilots/
American Airlines. "American Airlines' Number of Pilots from 2019 to 2023*." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 2 Jul 2024, /statistics/741820/american-airlines-active-pilots/
American Airlines, American Airlines' number of pilots from 2019 to 2023* ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/741820/american-airlines-active-pilots/ (last visited July 14, 2026)
American Airlines' number of pilots from 2019 to 2023* [Graph], American Airlines, July 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/741820/american-airlines-active-pilots/