Sun Country Airlines is feeling the effects of the pilot crisis, removing approximately 348 flights from its September schedule.
Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson said in an internal memo sent to both Allegiant and Sun Country flight crews on July 3 that the reduction in flights was due “to higher-than-expected front-line crew attrition combined with increased cargo flying.”
Suspended routes for September include Cancun; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Destin–Fort Walton Beach, Florida; Asheville and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Baltimore/Washington; and Phoenix-Mesa.
Anderson said the flight reductions are temporary as the airline ramps up pilot hiring in Minneapolis–St. Paul.
So far, only September flights have been affected, as schedules from October through April of next year remain unchanged.
Not Hiring Enough Pilots
Sun Country’s flight cuts reflect a broader problem in the aviation industry. According to reports, the pilot supply-demand gap is expected to peak at 24,000 pilots this year.
Experts believe that factors such as mandatory retirements, a surge in demand for air travel, and disruptions caused by the pandemic have contributed to the current pilot shortage.
As a result, carriers are canceling routes and grounding aircraft, while pilots are experiencing some of the fastest salary growth in the airline industry.
The shortage has also pushed pilot compensation to record levels. In 2016, the median salary for U.S. airline pilots was around $127,820. That figure grew by 77% by 2024, reaching $226,600.
Senior captains at major airlines can earn as much as $500,000 annually. Those flying wide-body long-haul aircraft for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines can earn more than $700,000 per year.
Training and Retirement Challenges
While a career as a pilot is becoming increasingly lucrative, the cost and length of training remain primary barriers that deter prospective pilots and delay the entry of new aviators into the workforce.
Before flying for a commercial airline, pilots typically need 1,500 flight hours, which can take two to three years to accumulate and cost between $70,000 and $110,000.
Another factor contributing to the widening pilot supply-demand gap is the FAA’s mandatory retirement rule that airline pilots retire at age 65.
Regional carriers and smaller airlines are more affected by the pilot shortage than larger airlines, which tend to hire pilots in waves.