Airline Pilot Central

06/09/2026

Airlines become focus of a hot cultural debate.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

After a national discussion on the role of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) programs in aviation recruiting, the Federal Aviation Administration introduced a new mandatory "Operations Specification" forcing commercial airlines to explicitly commit to merit-based pilot recruiting processes. T...

05/26/2026

Labor supply is a hot topic in commercial aviation.

Photo by Ra Dragon on Unsplash

https://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/articles/news/is-there-really-a-pilot-shortage.html

05/12/2026

Spirit Airlines fails to secure government help.

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https://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/articles/news/the-us-government-did-not-bail-out-struggling-spirit-airlines.html

Spirit Airlines, a well-known ultra-low-cost airline, succumbed to its financial wounds. The airline tried to secure a $500 million bailout from the Trump administration in exchange for equity in the company, but this proposed arrangement did not go through. The cause of closure of the airline will....

04/21/2026

The pilot career flies high.

Photo by Ben Soyka on Unsplash

Commercial airline pilot salaries hit a milestone in 2025, with pay hitting all-time highs in the US. Strong airline profitability, active union bargaining, and a worldwide pilot demand all contributed to wage increases for pilots that affected the financial picture of the industry.

04/07/2026

Geopolitics, fuel costs, and airline hiring.

Photo by Moslem Daneshzadeh on Unsplash

Photo by Moslem Daneshzadeh on UnsplashThe global aviation industry is still under a lot of strain due to rising fuel costs. The recent war between Iran and the coalition of the United States and Israel has led to a severe restriction on the amount of ships that can go through the Strait of Hormuz,....

03/24/2026

Will commercial airline pilots be flying solo?

Photo by Taiki Ishikawa on Unsplash

Commercial aircraft have had two pilots in the cockpit for many years. With technological advances, however, certain airlines and aircraft manufacturers are considering single-pilot operations (SPO) as a potential future for commercial aviation. Although the idea is still years away from being put i...

03/10/2026

Significant fraud case raises aviation concerns.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The director of London-based airplane parts broker AOG Technics was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail on Monday. His crime was one that should shock the aviation industry, a major fraud operation that involved the sale of fake engine components backed by fabricated documentation,.

02/24/2026

Commercial pilots are trending towards quality of life

Photo by Sonja Langford on Unsplash

For many years, commercial airline pilots were taught a straightforward formula for achieving professional success: pursue the highest-paying aircraft with the largest airline, and everything else will work itself out. That attitude is changing in 2026. Even while industry pay rates are still histor...

02/10/2026

What is the better career path for pilots?

Photo by David Syphers on Unsplash

The decision of whether to fly for a large carrier or a regional airline in 2026 is quite different for today's commercial airline pilots than it was ten years ago. Both routes have been altered by the industry's post-pandemic recovery, alleged pilot shortages, and changing business models. Many of....

01/27/2026

American Airlines began in 1926. Let's take a look back.

Photo by Ross Sokolovski on Unsplash

A major player in aviation history, American Airlines will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1926 as a tiny air mail carrier called "American Airways," the airline has expanded to become one of the biggest and most well-known airlines in the world, significantly influencing the glo...