Piedmont Airlines is joining a growing list of carriers sweetening the pot by offering previously unheard-of compensation and bonus packages to qualified pilots.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?
On Tuesday, the Salisbury, Maryland-based regional airline announced it would begin offering a jaw-dropping $100,000 upfront bonus for pilots qualified for the left seat. For those not quite at that point but are close to upgrading to captain, Piedmont will fork out $75,000.
Company officials said the goal of the incentive is to help position it for robust growth in 2023.
Piedmont Becomes the Latest Airline to Lure Pilots with Lucrative Financial Incentives
![Screenshot of piedmont-airlines.com $100K incentive](https://avgeekery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Screen-Shot-2022-11-15-at-3.22.25-PM-1160x458.png)
The announcement by Piedmont, which flies exclusively as an American Eagle carrier, comes in a year that has seen its fair share of bold financial incentives to attract employees amid an unprecedented pilot shortage. Companies such as Mesa Airlines, Massachusetts-based startup carrier Connect Airlines, and others are boosting pay and offering other dramatic financial incentives to combat the ongoing pilot shortage.
After striking a deal with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) over the summer, Piedmont itself dramatically raised starting pay for pilots to well above industry averages. Under the new contract, captain pay varies between $146 and $213 per hour, based on total airline experience.
The deal increased pilot pay by 100 percent for new pilots and 400 percent for direct-entry captain applicants.
Piedmont Airlines: Help Us Expand Our Fleet and Our Routes
![Piedmont Airlines Embraer ERJ 145 in hangar](https://avgeekery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/82786121_2662590713833776_7817314119123468288_n.jpeg)
Now, Piedmont has become the first carrier to offer a no-questions-asked $100,000 sign-on bonus. CEO Eric Morgan says his airline is uniquely positioned to offer such an incentive.
“Passengers are back, and the demand for travel is high, but our industry hasn’t settled into steady state yet,” said Morgan. “Piedmont has the opportunity to grow even as many other airlines are shrinking. We are in a unique position to say to pilots, ‘come to Piedmont, help us expand our fleet and our routes, and here’s a big check to spend while you do it.’”
The $100K incentive will replace Piedmont’s current pilot retention bonuses, which are set to expire at the end of this year. Additionally, qualified pilots will be paid $100,000 upfront rather than receiving multiple bonuses over five years.
To qualify for the $100,000 bonus, pilots must have at least 950 hours of Part 121 time. Pilots with between 500 and 949 hours of Part 121 time will be eligible for the $75,000 bonus.
It’s a Limited-Time Offer
![Piedmont Airlines Embraer ERJ145](https://avgeekery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/292455379_5212126705546818_4908430847392025378_n-1160x773.jpeg)
There is one catch, however. Pilots must apply to the airline and accept a conditional job offer by the end of December.
Morgan says he hopes the bonus offer will help the carrier attract and retain qualified captains needed for projected expansion.
“We’ve done a tremendous amount of work to get all of our resources aligned to grow,” said Morgan. “But we have a gap in 2023-2024 between the number of airplanes we want to fly and the captains we need to fly them. We’re looking for pilots who can bring their knowledge and experience to Piedmont, fly in the left seat, and get us through that 24-month time period. It’s a $100,000 bonus and top-tier pay for a two-year commitment to Piedmont. These pilots will also be able to take advantage of our contractual flow to American.”
The carrier says interested pilots can apply through AirlineApps.com. They can also contact a Piedmont recruiter by emailing FlyPiedmont@aa.com.
Piedmont is Expanding its Fleet with Ex-Envoy Embraer 145s
![Piedmont Airlines Embraer ERJ145 with skyline of Downtown Charlotte, NC in the background](https://avgeekery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/139347566_3582574185168753_7479961585288672489_n.jpeg)
Near-term growth at Piedmont will focus on two of American Airlines’ biggest hubs: Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Piedmont will also begin flying new routes out of Chicago O’Hare (ORD) next month.
To facilitate the planned growth, Piedmont is adding 15 ex-Envoy Embraer 145s to its exclusively 50-seat ERJ145 fleet. The carrier took delivery of the first two ERJs last month, bringing the total number of aircraft to 47 – 44 of which are currently in service.
Piedmont Airlines currently serves 55 destinations in the eastern United States. It operates crew bases in Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg, PA (MDT).