CHICAGO—United Airlines said Tuesday it would hire up to 100 pilots later this year, the first time the carrier has added new pilots since 2001.
The Chicago-based airline also plans to bring back the remaining pilots that have been on furlough.
United, which is owned by UAL Corp., said it is adding more pilots to accommodate a growing flight schedule and an increase in international destinations.
“This milestone is a positive development for our company and our customers, enabling us to expand the ranks of our professional pilots and maintain the efficiency and the breadth of our schedule and our network,” Chief Executive Officer Glenn Tilton told employees Tuesday in a message.
The carrier will begin accepting applications later this summer and the new pilots could begin flying by December after undergoing training at United’s Denver center.
“It’s been six long years,” said Dave Kelly, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association. “We believe this is a necessary step for the company to address its staffing issues.”
The airline began recalling furloughed pilots in 2004. The carrier once had 2,172 pilots on furlough, but that number has decreased, Kelly said.
United has about 6,400 pilots.
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