The airline pilot shortage in the U.S. will effect smaller markets most of all
Photo Credit: An airborne American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135LR. Flickr / Willamor Media
Skift Take
A wave of retirements is just one more issue that will force airlines and smaller airports to rethink the base assumptions of how they do business together.
But it could boost business at flight schools, according to at least one aviation expert.
Pilots in general aren't young workers, according to Denny Kelly, a former pilot and now an aviation consultant with Kelly-James and Associates in Dallas. He says the average age of a commercial airline pilot is about 48.
"You've got to remember 5 to 10 percent of these pilots will retire every year," he said.
He pointed out American Airlines, whose regional carrier, American Eagle, serves Waterloo with two flights per day in and out of Waterloo Regional Airport, has been in bankruptcy reorganization and has lost pilots in recent years. If trends continue, he could envision American cutting back service to Waterloo if it needs to shift regional pilots to longer routes.
"If Eagle or American starts having a pilot shortage they're going to h
