Unprecedented Pilot Shortage Expected by 2026 as Airlines Increase Hiring
The aviation industry is currently grappling with the most severe pilot shortage in decades. Consulting firm Oliver Wyman projects a shortfall of 24,000 pilots in 2026—the largest gap between supply and demand expected this decade. This has prompted major airlines to accelerate their hiring to unprecedented levels.
United Airlines and American Airlines are now running combined weekly new-hire classes, totaling over 500 pilots per month, according to industry recruitment firm Aero Crew Solutions. ATP Flight School reported that pilot hiring at major and legacy airlines rose 17% in 2025, with momentum building into 2026 as carriers expand training capacity.
Boeing’s latest Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts that global commercial aviation will require approximately 660,000 new pilots over the next 20 years. North America alone will need 119,000. The shortage is driven by mandatory retirements at age 65, with roughly 3,000 legacy carrier retirements forecasted in 2026, coupled with unprecedented growth in air travel demand.
In response, airlines have dramatically increased pilot salaries—some by as much as 86%—to attract and retain talent. Industry experts emphasize that aspiring pilots currently in training will be “competitively positioned to capitalize on the pilot shortage,” with regional airlines now requiring candidates to be part of cadet programs for hiring consideration. The shortage is expected to continue well into the decade, with a projected shortfall of 17,000 pilots still remaining in 2032.
Sources: AeroTime and ATP Flight School