Southwest to halve flying time needed for prospective pilots

Southwest Airlines will reduce by half the amount of experience prospective pilots must have flying jet or turboprop aircraft as it accelerates hiring this year. Applicants will need to have 500 hours of “turbine time” starting Feb. 7, down from the 1,000 hours previously required, the airline confirmed Saturday. The change, outlined in a Feb. 2 memo to pilots, “will allow more highly-skilled aviators the opportunity to pursue a career at Southwest Airlines,” a spokeswoman said Saturday. The US airline industry has been hobbled by a pilot shortage that intensified during and coming out of the pandemic. Most major carriers continue to hire aviators even after securing enough to fly current schedules, leaving a shortfall at regional airlines that has kept some aircraft grounded. Southwest is adding a net 1,700 pilots this year, after hiring about 1,000 in 2022. The change “will ensure we can continue to be selective in hiring pilots who demonstrate Southwest’s values and have relevant experience across the board,” said the memo from three Southwest executives.<br/>