E358: Spirit Going Under? United-American Rumors & 2026 Pilot Hiring Forecast — Jim Higgins Returns
4/28/20261 hr 5 min
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State of the Industry!
Spirit's on the brink, Scott Kirby is publicly floating a United–American merger, and the entire airline industry feels like it's holding its breath. Welcome to silly season.
Jim Higgins, professor of aviation at the University of North Dakota and former MEC chair, returns to the Pilot to Pilot Podcast to break down everything happening across the majors right now — and what could happen next.
In this episode, Justin and Jim dig into:
• Where pilot hiring actually stands in 2026 (and the FAPA numbers that tell the real story) • What verbiage in earnings calls and press releases signals trouble before furloughs hit • Fuel prices, the Strait of Hormuz, and how a war on the other side of the world hits your paycheck • The Spirit situation and what bankruptcy vs. liquidation would actually mean • The United–JetBlue rumors — and whether "merging with American" was a smokescreen • Seniority list integration, ALPA merger protocols, and why Southwest hired an M&A law firm • What Delta, Alaska, and Southwest would HAVE to do if a United mega-merger goes through • The Allegiant–Sun Country deal nobody's talking about • Could Delta go international by buying foreign carriers outright?
Drop a comment with YOUR merger prediction. We'll be wrong together.
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Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJustin Siems· Host0:00
Episode 358 of the Pilot to Pilot podcast takes off now. [jet engine roaring] Did you know that 11% of accidents happen while taxiing? Avemco Insurance Company believes education and awareness make a real difference, which is why they support safety programs and reward pilots who stay sharp. Pilot to Pilot podcast listeners can save 5%. Call 888-635-4297 or visit avemco.com/4297-owner for aircraft owners, and visit avemco.com/4297-non-owner for non-owners today. Premium credits are subject to underwriting guidelines, including Avemco-recognized training and memberships, and the source is Avemco Insurance Company claims data 2023. Again, thank you so much, Avemco, for being a sponsor. Please help the podcast out. Give them a call. Visit the website. See how much you could save today by switching to Avemco. Aviation, let's talk about progressing as a pilot. One thing I've always admired about Textron Aviation is how they're built for lifelong aviators. They're the only OEM that can support your entire journey with aircraft across more aviation segments than anyone else. I can speak personally on this, as I have gone from, uh, a 152, a 172, a 182, a 1- [laughs] uh, 206, a 310, the Caravan, the Grand Caravan, and most recently, the Citation Latitude. So I've seen it work for every mission, from training, from aerial survey, to flying freight deep into Mexico and all