Delta says it will return 400 pilots to sky by summer

Delta Air Lines Inc. will return 400 pilots to full flying status by this summer, betting that the expansion of coronavirus vaccinations will trigger a rebound in travel demand.

The plan is “well ahead” of when the company originally estimated it would restore pilots to full active status, John Laughter, Delta senior vicepresident of operations, said in a memo. last Thursday. The decision was based in part on available training capacity in March and April and facilitated by Delta’s $2.9-billion (U.S.) share of a second round of federal payroll aid for U.S. carriers.

The improved outlook builds on Delta’s expectation that it will end daily cash losses in the second quarter, and potentially turn a profit in the third. The upbeat comments — in contrast to a more dour outlook last week from United Airlines Holdings Inc. — have spurred hopes that a recovery will begin after a tough first quarter in which Delta expects to burn as much as $15-million a day.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that demand will increase as vaccinations roll out across the world, and we look forward to restoring all affected pilots back to full flying status as the recovery continues,” Laughter said.

Delta declined to comment about future flight capacity or schedule planning.

“We are encouraged that Delta has begun recalling pilots that the pandemic has sidelined,” said Chris Riggins, a spokesperson for the Air Line Pilots Association’s unit at Delta.