Perhaps more than any other airline, United Airlines (UAL) romanticized jet travel for millions of people through decades of advertisements that made flying seem fun, exciting, and increasingly affordable.
One popular 1960s commercial featured singing stewardesses inviting passengers to “fly the friendly skies;” more recent campaigns showcased United’s airplanes taking off to the uplifting strings of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” — no doubt inspiring countless young aviators to earn their wings as pilots.
The commercial airline industry usually rewards its highly skilled pilots with lucrative salaries and decades of job stability, but the past few years have been anything but a smooth ride for pilots, as pandemic-related stay-at-home lockdowns and travel restrictions caused the airline industry to lose staggering amounts of money: $168 billion in total cumulative losses, according to McKinsey & Company.
As a way to reduce costs, many experienced pilots took early retirement packages — leaving 10,000 vacant seats in the cockpit.
One silver lining from the pilot shortages was that pilot unions enjoyed increased bargaining power, and in 2023 and 2024, several of the biggest airlines — including United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest — agreed to new contracts that awarded pilots with hefty raises and increased benefits.
Worth a whopping $10 billion, United’s pay hike was not only the largest out of all major airlines — it was the largest in U.S. history. Under terms of the deal from United’s pilot union, the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA), United pilots received a four-year, 34.5% to 40.2% pay increase, and enhanced sick leave, vacation, and 401(k) benefits.
Related: Delta pilot salaries: What the world’s biggest airline pays its flightdeck
But not even bigger paychecks have enabled United’s pilots to find those blue skies in 2024 — because this time, Boeing is to blame.
The beleaguered manufacturer recently pled guilty to a felony charge to defraud the FAA over its role in two fatal 737 Max crashes, and production of additional aircraft ground to a halt after a Boeing-built piece of fuselage blew out during Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 in January.
Increased FAA oversight has delayed delivery of all new Boeing aircraft — and unfortunately, Boeing represents 81% of United’s fleet.
United Airlines pilots received the industry’s largest pay hike in 2023
halbergman / Getty Images
What is going on with United Airlines’ pilot hiring freeze and furloughs?
In December 2022, United placed one of the largest aircraft orders in history: One hundred Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets, at a cost of $43 billion.
As part of the order, United was contracted to receive 43 Boeing 737 MAX 8, 34 MAX 9, and 80 MAX 10 aircraft in 2024, but Boeing’s troubles have sent these plans into a tailspin.
In a memo obtained by Travel Weekly, United Flight Operations Vice President Marc Champion told staff “… We just won’t grow as fast as we thought we would in 2024 due to continued delays at Boeing,” adding, “We had contractual deliveries for 80 Max 10s this year alone, but those aircraft aren’t even certified yet, and it’s impossible to know when they will arrive.”
Now, United expects to get just 37 737 MAX 8 and 17 MAX 9 aircraft — and zero MAX 10s.
Related: The most delayed (& most on-time) airlines in 2024
Without aircraft to operate, pilots simply can’t do their jobs. In March, United revealed that it would be pausing new pilot training in May and June, with plans to resume in July.
In April, in another memo, United announced that it would ask some of its current pilots to take voluntary unpaid leave through May and possibly into the summer and fall, adding that they would be eligible to receive some benefits.
By July, everyone was wondering when United will begin rehiring again — although as of the date of this article’s most recent update, there are no pilot positions listed on United’s Career Openings page.
Where is United Airlines headquartered? What is its history
15,000 pilots fly for United — only Delta’s pilot fleet is larger, at 17,319. Founded in 1926, United began as Varney Air Lines, an Idaho-based air mail carrier. A few years and several mergers later (including the acquisition of William Boeing’s company, Boeing Air Transport), United Airlines was formed in 1931.
In 2011, United merged again, this time with Continental Airlines, creating the second-largest airline in the world.
Today, United travels to 356 destinations in 48 countries. It has a total of 103,000 employees and a fleet of 956 aircraft.
Where are United Airlines’ headquarters and pilot bases?
United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago with pilot bases in the Windy City as well as in Cleveland, Denver, Newark, N.J., Guam, Washington, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
United is known for its diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives, and its Aviate Academy has a stated goal to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030 — half of which will be women or people of color.
“One common thread throughout these families is that each daughter has felt supported and heard by her father, from childhood through the present.” Read more about @alpapilots Flying Fathers, Flying Daughters story https://t.co/N8R0AaLeCo pic.twitter.com/VEKFbRlfWl
— United Airlines Pilots (@UnitedPilots) July 11, 2024
How much do United Airlines pilots make?
According to Indeed, which uses data from current and former United employees as well as job advertisements, United pilots make an average of $143,799, with top earners receiving as much as $387,000.
The aviation school Thrust Flight produced a series on airline salaries using data from the ALPA. It found that United pilot pay ranges from the low $100Ks for First Officers to $300K+ for senior Captains:
United Airlines First Officer pay
Thrust Flight Academy
ExperiencePay
1 year
$111,408
5 years
$209,347
10 years
$231,158
United Airlines Captain pay
Thrust Flight Academy
ExperiencePay
1 year
$316,387
5 years
$326,582
10 years
$339,465
Broken down by hour, Thrust Flight added that First Officer pay grew quickly if pilots operated larger aircraft like the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, and that Captain pay could top $438 per hour on guaranteed, 70-hour monthly shifts.
More on airlines:
American Airlines pilot salaries: How to land the world’s “dream job”Flight attendant salaries: What they make & how to get the jobFedEx pilot salary: How much does the world’s largest cargo airline pay?
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What benefits do United Airlines pilots get?
United Airlines offers an array of benefits to all employees, including pilots, such as medical, vision, dental, long-term disability, and life insurance options, as well as a matching 401(k) retirement plan.
United’s Leadership Institute offers resources and training to enhance and develop one’s career. In addition, United prides itself on its commitment to volunteerism, offering opportunities to give back at local food banks, athletic events, and parades, to name a few.
Perhaps the biggest perk of them all from United is the opportunity to enjoy unlimited standby travel — anywhere United flies.
How to become a United Airlines pilot
United offers career pathways for both experienced pilots and aspiring aviators. All opportunities are listed on the United Pilot Careers page of the United website.
United’s Aviate Academy was established in 2022 as a way to address the pilot shortage. Based in Phoenix with a flight training center in Denver, the year-long program offers those with little to no flying experience the training and certification they need to obtain their private pilot certificate and begin their flying careers. The graduating class of 2023 had 240 students, with 75% representation by women and people of color.United also partners with participating universities and flight schools and those already flying with a participating United Express career to source talent for its Aviate Program.Pilots with unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate can apply to be a United First Officer.United also partners with the U.S. military, offering full-time, active-duty pilots the opportunity to become First Officers after their service.United has a pilot program with SkyWest Airlines which prepares experienced First Officers and Captains for careers on the United flight deck.
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