United Airlines Prepares to Diversify its Pilot Population

United Airlines announced that it plans to diversify its pilot population. Traditionally, the US airlines’ pilot population is predominantly composed of white men. With United Airlines’ plan, the airline is looking to hire more women and people of color.

The US airline industry is currently making a comeback. The airline industry is expecting a higher influx of travelers in the coming months. The CDC recently announced that fully vaccinated individuals carry a small risk of acquiring and spreading COVID19. It means that fully vaccinated individuals can most likely skip COVID19 testing and quarantine when flying domestic.

Given these factors, travelers are once again confident to travel thanks to the vaccine rollout. With this, US airlines are now ready to expand their operations again.

Diversifying United’s Pilot Population

United Airlines is the only major airline that also operates a flight school. United bought United Aviate Academy last year before the pandemic forced the industry to shrink its operations. This time around, United Airlines is looking to hire 10,000 pilots by 2030. 5,000 will come from its flight school and the rest will be from other airlines and the US military.

Today, United has around 12,000 pilots. Only 7% are women and only 13% are people of color according to the company. Chief Communications Officer Josh Earnest says that United wants to tap into a “bigger talent pool”. Earnest added that United wants more than just “one section of the pond”.

However, one of the reasons it is difficult to become a pilot is the fact that it costs a lot to become one. The company is looking to change that by offering $1.2 million worth of academy scholarships. Its credit card partner, JPMorgan Chase, will also contribute another $1.2 million for women and people of color to be able to enroll in the flight school.

United prepares to recruit and train pilots as the industry is going to lose many aging pilots. United anticipates the number of pilots who are about to enter the mandatory retirement age of 65. Plus, the industry have to let go of thousands of pilots during the pandemic.