Some of those who turn down the airlines have found flying jobs elsewhere, The Post says. They’re in corporate flight departments, or working for low-cost and regional carriers. Those jobs may pay less but offer more stability, and some pilots prefer the lifestyle or the choices of where to live. Other laid-off pilots have taken high-paying jobs offshore with airlines in Asia, the Middle East and South America. Some joined the military. But others found new careers in another field. “The industry was basically in shambles, so I decided to do something different,” Milind Limaye told the Post. “I wouldn’t go back.” Limaye, laid off from American in 2003, went back to college and just finished his first year of medical school.
So Where Are The Pilots?
Key Takeaways:
- Many pilots who didn't join major airlines found alternative flying jobs in corporate departments or with regional/low-cost carriers, valuing stability and lifestyle over top pay.
- Other pilots sought high-paying opportunities with airlines in Asia, the Middle East, or South America, or opted to join the military.
- Some laid-off pilots transitioned entirely out of aviation, pursuing new careers in different fields, such as medicine.
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