Delta Air Lines Inc, the world’s largest airline, is planning to hire new pilots later in the year in order to gain flexibility amid signs of a recovery in the airline industry. It is also planning to bring back next year as many aircraft that were parked in California’s desert due to the recession-driven capacity cuts.
The company at present plans to hire 300 pilots, compared with 240 pilots previously announced, to help offset retirements and meet future demand as it increases the use of the widebody aircraft.
The company expects to invest about $1.0 billion over the next few years to improve customer experience and efficiency of the fleet. It expects the economy and revenue trends to improve over the course of the year as business travel continues to return, capacity discipline is maintained and synergies from the merger of Northwest Airlines are fully realized.
Delta Air Lines provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo throughout the United States, and around the world. The company’s route network is centered on the hub system that it operates at airports in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam and Tokyo-Narita.
The hub operations include flights and the network is supported by a fleet of aircraft, which is varied in terms of size and capability. On December 31, 2009, the company completed the merger with Northwest Airlines, Inc.
