The United States airline industry has significantly slowed down hiring after adding up to 194,000 employees in a hiring spree taking place after Covid-19. This hiring effort was part of the industry’s rebound from the pandemic lockdowns.
Throughout 2020, airlines were hit hard by travel restrictions and plunging demand, leading to massive layoffs. However, with the rollout of vaccines and easing of travel restrictions in 2021, flights began to rebound, prompting airlines to scale up their workforce.
Airlines staffed up rapidly to meet the surge in travel demand, adding a total of 194,000 employees. However, this rush to recruit seems to have petered out. The relentless hiring pace has slowed significantly in recent months.
The reasons behind this slowdown are multiple. First, airlines are now struggling with high labor and fuel costs, which are eating into profits. These financial pressures are making carriers more cautious about expanding their workforce. Second, the risk of further Covid-related disruptions remains.
Additionally, airlines may also be pausing hiring as they assess longer-term demand patterns. There’s uncertainty over whether business travel will rebound to pre-pandemic levels, given the rise of remote work, and this may influence hiring decisions.
Therefore, while the initial post-lockdown period saw a significant increase in hiring, the trend is now towards more cautious growth in the airline industry.