Delta Approves 34% Pay Raise For Pilots As Shortages Continue

Delta Air Lines’ commercial pilots received a 34% raise on Wednesday thanks to a working agreement.

Over the next four-years, Delta will pay more that $7 billion for this agreement. It is available to 15,000 pilots. 78% of Delta pilots voted in favor of the agreement. It provides employees with additional vacation time as well as other benefits.

“This industry-leading contract is the direct result of the Delta pilots’ unity and resolve,” In a Statement, Captain Darren Hartmann, Chair of the Delta Master Executive Council, stated his views. “Despite a two-year delay in negotiations due to COVID, we never lost sight of our goal to obtain significant across-the-board enhancements to our pilot working agreement.”

This deal will set the standard for American airlines and United Airlines. North America is currently the only region experiencing a shortage of pilots, as the aviation sectors in Europe & Asia are still not fully recovering from their lockdown mandates.

U.S. carriers currently have 12,000 pilots short. A federal law that requires them to retire at 65 will mean that 14,000 pilots will need to be out of work within five years. Learn more about Oliver Wyman Consulting.

In 2020, many airlines encouraged pilots not to fly anymore as there was less demand. Delta was one of these examples. The Executives received reduced training and the requirements for a 4-year degree. They also signed bonuses and increased their pay to address the pilot shortage.

“While we feel as strongly as ever about the importance of education, there are highly qualified candidates, people who we would want to welcome to our Delta family, who have gained more than the equivalent of a college education through years of life and leadership experience,” The company claimed that the announcement was made last year.

Increased fuel costs and pilot shortages has led to an increase of airfares in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ticket prices have increased nearly 26% annually. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An analysis revealed that the average national airfare for the second quarter of 2022 was $397. This is the highest level recorded in 18 years. Analysis SmartAsset.

Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas), and Senator Lindsey Graham,(R-SC), proposed measures. Increase To reduce staffing pressures, commercial pilots have seen their retirement age rise from 65 years to 67.

“Following the heavy-handed stupidity of government lockdowns, travel demand has naturally skyrocketed. However, Americans are now experiencing flight delays and cancellations on an unacceptable scale due to a worsening pilot shortage,” Roy agreed. “A key factor is a government-mandated retirement age that forces out thousands of our most qualified pilots every year.”

Pete Buttigieg, Transport Secretary, was responsible for overseeing many important infrastructure issues over his two-year tenure. To encourage the entry of pilots into the workforce, support for college and high school training programs should be stressed.

“The answer is not to keep the Baby Boomer generation in the cockpit indefinitely,” He made a comment. “The answer is to make sure we have as many and as good pilots ready to take their place, to have a stronger pipeline.”

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