Southwest Airlines Faces Challenges in Talent War, Highlights “Resume Washing” as Anomaly in Aviation

By Moon Harper

Dec 21, 2023 12:21 AM EST

Pilots from smaller airlines apply to work at Southwest Airlines but often leave after a few months to join larger competitors, adding to the ongoing talent competition in the U.S. aviation industry.

"Resume-Washing"

Southwest's Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Watterson, refers to this practice as "resume washing," where pilots aim to bypass policies set by major U.S. carriers to safeguard staffing for their regional airlines. Pilots gain flying hours at smaller airlines to later apply to larger ones through agreements. However, some pilots may face career stagnation if the larger carriers limit hiring.

Pilot Mobility and Job-Hopping

Pilots stuck at these airlines are frustrated seeing major carriers offer substantial bonuses from cargo companies like UPS and FedEx, so they opt to join low-cost carriers such as Southwest, then leave within a year to secure positions at Delta or United Airlines.

Watterson, Southwest's COO, explained in a December 13 interview that regional pilots see Southwest as a stepping stone. They join Southwest, get trained, spend six months, and leverage it on their resume to apply to other desired airlines.

Delta and United representatives countered, stating they still hire directly from regional carriers, though United acknowledged controlling the pace of such recruits. American Airlines Group Inc. mentioned hiring from regional airlines and has established long-standing agreements to accept a specific number of pilots from wholly-owned ones.

Pilots seeking top salaries for flying large international aircraft can't find that opportunity at Southwest. Based in Dallas, the airline operates only single-aisle Boeing Co. 737s within the U.S. and to nearby destinations like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Aruba.

Southwest's Pilot Attrition and Hiring Efforts

According to CEO Bob Jordan in a December interview, the frequent movement temporarily increased Southwest's pilot attrition rate, especially among younger first officers. He described this as an "anomaly" for the fourth-largest U.S. airline but emphasized that it hasn't affected their hiring efforts. Southwest, known for its employee-friendly culture, has never involuntarily furloughed any worker in its 52-year history.

Aviation consultant Kit Darby states frequent job changes can benefit pilots with low seniority in the long run. Darby has found that a 40-year career as a pilot at United is valued at around $22 million in pay, benefits, and retirement packages, compared to $16.3 million at Southwest. Darby emphasized the positive aspect of pilots having more choices today, contrasting it with the past when securing even one job was considered fortunate.

Industry-Wide Pilot Shortage

As the pandemic eased, the pilot shortage in the U.S. airline industry grew more severe, prompting airlines to increase training programs, recruit foreign pilots, and substitute planes with buses. Southwest also cut the required experience for prospective pilots flying jet or turboprop aircraft in half to address the shortage.

Watterson said it's nearly impossible when asked how Southwest could tackle the resume-washing issue. However, he noted that Southwest is not facing any challenges in recruiting pilots. On Tuesday, Southwest and its pilot union agreed on a new five-year contract. This year, American Airlines, United, and Delta pilots have secured new multibillion-dollar agreements.