US carriers hired twice as many pilots as they had expected to in 2004, according to AIR Inc, the Atlanta-based recruitment agency. With December numbers still to be counted, around 9,500 new pilot jobs were created at all sizes and types of airline in 2004, up 5,200 from the industry's earlier forecast of 4,300 new jobs. But 9,280 pilots, half of them from American and United Airlines, were on furlough at year end.
Source: Airline Business