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:
- Pilots who turned down major airlines or were laid off often found alternative flying jobs in corporate, regional, or international carriers, frequently prioritizing stability, lifestyle, or location over higher pay.
- Some also opted to join the military.
- A number of these pilots left the aviation industry altogether, pursuing entirely new careers in other fields, citing the industry's instability.
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