Airline Pilot Jobs in the USA and Canada 2026: 25 Airlines, 17 Recruiting Now

One licence and one number define the market: the FAA ATP and its 1,500 hours, or 750 to 1,250 under the Restricted ATP for military pilots and aviation-degree graduates. Every US airline on our board starts there. The regionals — SkyWest, Envoy, Republic, Endeavor, PSA, Piedmont, Horizon — hire at the ATP or R-ATP levels and feed the majors through flow agreements, and the majors’ pathway programmes (United Aviate, Delta Propel, American’s Cadet Academy, JetBlue Gateway, Southwest’s Destination 225°) fix the sequence in advance without waiving a single hour. Of the 25 North American airlines tracked, 17 were recruiting, 17 taking First Officers — and 4 taking Captains, all of them regional or Canadian carriers, because at the US majors command is a seniority event, never a hire.

Canada mirrors the structure with its own licence. Air Canada wants a Canadian ATPL with a current Group 1 instrument rating, 2,000 fixed-wing hours, a Category 1 medical and citizenship or permanent residence, and says openly that applications exceed vacancies; WestJet Encore takes 1,000 hours and 100 PIC on the Dash 8, with a flow to the 737 mainline, Porter hires at 1,000 hours (interviewing from 500) for its E195-E2 and Dash 8 fleets, and Jazz, which flies as Air Canada Express, publishes the lowest door at 500 hours with a Group 1 instrument rating. Work authorisation is absolute on both sides of the border — no US or Canadian airline on our board sponsors a pilot visa — and FedEx adds citizenship or permanent residence plus security-clearance eligibility. Southwest and the cargo carriers hire in windows rather than continuously, which is why their status flips across the year.

Who is hiring now (17 of 25)

First Officer routes (17)

Airlines in the USA and Canada taking First Officer applications or holding a First Officer pool at the last check.

• Air Canada Recruiting
  2,000 h fixed-wing, Canadian ATPL with Group 1 IR, Category 1 medical; Canadian citizen or PR; bilingual an asset — careers page
• Alaska Airlines (incl. Hawaiian) Recruiting
  1,500 h total and 500 h fixed-wing turbine, FAA First Class; two seniority lists (Alaska / Hawaiian) with different domiciles — careers page
• American Airlines Recruiting
  Hires at FAA ATP minimums: 1,500 h (1,000 h military pathway), First Class medical, RROP, unrestricted US work authorisation — careers page
• Breeze Airways Recruiting
  1,500 h total, 750 h fixed-wing, 500 h cross-country, age 23+; A220 / E190 rating provided — careers page
• Delta Air Lines Recruiting
  1,500 h total with 1,000 h fixed-wing turbine and 250 h PIC/SIC; FAA CPL/IR and ATP-eligible; US work authorisation without sponsorship — careers page
• Endeavor Air Recruiting
  Interviews within six months of ATP minimums; Propel gives a Delta job offer up front; Direct Entry Captains advertised; CRJ-900 — careers page
• Envoy Air Recruiting
  1,500 h ATP (R-ATP down to 750 h); guaranteed flow to American; Captain pay from 750 h through December 2026 — careers page
• Frontier Airlines Recruiting
  1,500 h First Officer route open; A320-family type rating provided; 2–3 year upgrades advertised — careers page
• Horizon Air Recruiting
  Experienced First Officers at seven crew bases on the E175; Commercial ME/IR and First Class at application; transition to Alaska through Pathways — careers page
• Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express) Recruiting
  Captains and First Officers from 500 h with a Transport Canada Group 1 IR and Class 1; Canadian citizens or permanent residents — careers page
• Piedmont Airlines Recruiting
  E145 First Officers at 1,500 h (R-ATP accepted) with no interview after the ATP-CTP; Direct Entry Captains; cadets from 500 h — careers page
• Porter Airlines Recruiting
  E195-E2 and Dash 8 First Officers from 1,000 h (interview from 500 h) and Direct Entry E2 Captains at Toronto — careers page
• PSA Airlines Recruiting
  CRJ First Officers with a guaranteed flow to American; cadet programme with a free ATP-CTP; retention bonus up to $150,000 — careers page
• Republic Airways Recruiting
  1,500 h ATP-qualified; E170/E175 rating provided; LIFT Academy in-house ab-initio — careers page
• SkyWest Airlines Recruiting
  1,500 h ATP (R-ATP accepted) with 500 h XC, 100 h night, 75 h instrument, 25 h multi; CRJ/E175 rating provided — careers page
• United Airlines Recruiting
  Unrestricted FAA ATP with multi-engine rating and 1,500 h for direct entry — or flow via Aviate after 1,200–1,600 h PIC at a partner — careers page
• WestJet Recruiting
  Mainline B737 needs a TCCA ATPL; Encore Dash 8-400 takes 1,000 h / 100 h PIC with ATPL or CPL + IATRA — type rating provided — careers page

Captain routes (4)

Airlines in the USA and Canada taking Captains from outside. See the direct entry Captain page for the published minimums side by side.

• Endeavor Air Recruiting
  Interviews within six months of ATP minimums; Propel gives a Delta job offer up front; Direct Entry Captains advertised; CRJ-900 — careers page
• Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express) Recruiting
  Captains and First Officers from 500 h with a Transport Canada Group 1 IR and Class 1; Canadian citizens or permanent residents — careers page
• Piedmont Airlines Recruiting
  E145 First Officers at 1,500 h (R-ATP accepted) with no interview after the ATP-CTP; Direct Entry Captains; cadets from 500 h — careers page
• Porter Airlines Recruiting
  E195-E2 and Dash 8 First Officers from 1,000 h (interview from 500 h) and Direct Entry E2 Captains at Toronto — careers page

Cadet and pathway routes (17)

Routes that start before a licence, as each airline describes them. The cadet programmes page explains who pays and who is eligible.

• American Airlines
  American Airlines Cadet Academy — ab-initio with financing
• Delta Air Lines
  Propel Pilot Career Path Program — college, company and community pathways with a defined path to a Delta seat
• Endeavor Air
  Delta Propel Career Path — students at AABI-accredited US university programmes, their CFIs and affiliate flight schools: a Delta Qualified Job Offer plus an Endeavor Conditional Job Offer
• Envoy Air
  American Airlines Cadet Academy (ab-initio)
• Frontier Airlines
  F9 Pilot Cadet Program (ATP Flight School partnership)
• Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express)
  Jazz Approach — Jazz’s pilot training pathway to a First Officer seat
• Piedmont Airlines
  Piedmont Cadet Program — from 500 h total time: $15,000 towards hour building and a free ATP-CTP
• Porter Airlines
  Destination Porter — mentorship pathway for graduates of Porter’s partner schools
• PSA Airlines
  PSA Cadet Program — 13 partner colleges, universities and flight schools; ATP-CTP paid by PSA
• Republic Airways
  LIFT Academy — Republic’s own flight school
• SkyWest Airlines
  Pilot Pathway Program — cadet and university partners
• United Airlines
  Aviate — United Aviate Academy (ab-initio) then partner carrier then United · Aviate United Express flow — 1,600 h PIC at a participating UAX carrier (Aug 2026 guide)
• FedEx Express
  Purple Runway — partner-carrier pathway
• JetBlue
  Gateway Select — ab-initio, about 3.5 years, no more than a PPL on entry; applications open September 2026 · Gateway University — AABI-accredited partner colleges
• Sun Country Airlines
  College Bridge Pilot Program — university pathway for UND, Minnesota State (North Star Aviation) and SDSU graduates with 300 h of dual instruction there; R-ATP under FAR 61.160; 10-minute interview with a pilot recruiter
• UPS Airlines
  FlightPath I — university pathway · FlightPath II — partner-carrier pathway
• Allegiant Air
  Accelerate Pilot Pathway — university students at partner Part 141 programmes (Purdue, Kent State, Western Michigan); hired as a cadet with a conditional First Officer offer in the senior year

Requirements in the USA and Canada: what to expect

• Licence: FAA ATP with airplane multi-engine rating (unrestricted at United, Atlas and the cargo carriers; R-ATP accepted at the regionals). Canada: Canadian ATPL with Group 1 IR, or CPL with IATRA at Encore; Group 1 IR with the Transport Canada CPL, IFR and IATRA or SARON/SAMRA exams at Jazz.
• Hours: 1,500 total at every US major; Delta adds 1,000 fixed-wing turbine and 250 PIC/SIC, Alaska 500 turbine, Breeze 750 fixed-wing and 500 cross-country; Southwest 2,500 total or 1,500 turbine; Piedmont 1,500 with 50 multi-engine and 250 PIC. R-ATP: 1,250 / 1,000 / 750. Canada: Air Canada 2,000 fixed-wing, Encore and Porter 1,000, Jazz 500.
• Type rating: provided, with no bond published, by every airline on the board that states its terms. New hires are assigned a fleet by need.
• Right to work: US citizenship or unrestricted authorisation without sponsorship; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence. Passports with six months (United) to 24 months (Atlas) validity.
• Medical: FAA First Class; Transport Canada Category 1.
• Extras: FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (American); four-year degree required at FedEx and UPS, preferred at the passenger majors; minimum age 23 at Delta, Southwest, SkyWest, Atlas and Breeze.

Every airline in the USA and Canada (25)

• Air Canada Recruiting
  2,000 h fixed-wing, Canadian ATPL with Group 1 IR, Category 1 medical; Canadian citizen or PR; bilingual an asset
  Licence: Canadian ATPL · Group 1 IR · Hours: 2,000 h fixed-wing · Type rating: Not required · assigned · Right to work: Canadian citizen / PR — careers page
• Alaska Airlines (incl. Hawaiian) Recruiting
  1,500 h total and 500 h fixed-wing turbine, FAA First Class; two seniority lists (Alaska / Hawaiian) with different domiciles
  Licence: FAA CPL/IR + ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · 500 h turbine · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US — careers page
• American Airlines Recruiting
  Hires at FAA ATP minimums: 1,500 h (1,000 h military pathway), First Class medical, RROP, unrestricted US work authorisation
  Licence: FAA ATP or ATP-eligible · Hours: 1,500 h · 1,000 h military · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US · unrestricted — careers page
• Breeze Airways Recruiting
  1,500 h total, 750 h fixed-wing, 500 h cross-country, age 23+; A220 / E190 rating provided
  Licence: FAA CPL ME/IR · ATP written · Hours: 1,500 h · 750 h fixed-wing · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US — careers page
• Delta Air Lines Recruiting
  1,500 h total with 1,000 h fixed-wing turbine and 250 h PIC/SIC; FAA CPL/IR and ATP-eligible; US work authorisation without sponsorship
  Licence: FAA CPL/IR · ATP-eligible · Hours: 1,500 h · 1,000 h turbine · 250 h PIC/SIC · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US · no sponsorship — careers page
• Endeavor Air Recruiting
  Interviews within six months of ATP minimums; Propel gives a Delta job offer up front; Direct Entry Captains advertised; CRJ-900
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP · Hours: ATP minimums · interview 6 months early · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: Passport · unrestricted travel — careers page
• Envoy Air Recruiting
  1,500 h ATP (R-ATP down to 750 h); guaranteed flow to American; Captain pay from 750 h through December 2026
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · R-ATP to 750 h · Type rating: Not required · E175 provided · Right to work: US — careers page
• Frontier Airlines Recruiting
  1,500 h First Officer route open; A320-family type rating provided; 2–3 year upgrades advertised
  Licence: FAA ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · Type rating: Not required · A320 provided · Right to work: US — careers page
• Horizon Air Recruiting
  Experienced First Officers at seven crew bases on the E175; Commercial ME/IR and First Class at application; transition to Alaska through Pathways
  Licence: FAA Commercial ME/IR (ATP to fly) · Hours: Not published · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: US · unrestricted passport — careers page
• Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express) Recruiting
  Captains and First Officers from 500 h with a Transport Canada Group 1 IR and Class 1; Canadian citizens or permanent residents
  Licence: Transport Canada · Group 1 IR · Hours: 500 h · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: Canadian citizen or PR — careers page
• Piedmont Airlines Recruiting
  E145 First Officers at 1,500 h (R-ATP accepted) with no interview after the ATP-CTP; Direct Entry Captains; cadets from 500 h
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · R-ATP accepted · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US passport or US work authorisation — careers page
• Porter Airlines Recruiting
  E195-E2 and Dash 8 First Officers from 1,000 h (interview from 500 h) and Direct Entry E2 Captains at Toronto
  Licence: Transport Canada · IATRA/ATPL exams · Hours: 1,000 h · interview from 500 h · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: Not published — careers page
• PSA Airlines Recruiting
  CRJ First Officers with a guaranteed flow to American; cadet programme with a free ATP-CTP; retention bonus up to $150,000
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP · Hours: ATP / R-ATP minimums · Type rating: Not required · Right to work: US · passport — careers page
• Republic Airways Recruiting
  1,500 h ATP-qualified; E170/E175 rating provided; LIFT Academy in-house ab-initio
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · Type rating: Not required · E-Jet provided · Right to work: US — careers page
• SkyWest Airlines Recruiting
  1,500 h ATP (R-ATP accepted) with 500 h XC, 100 h night, 75 h instrument, 25 h multi; CRJ/E175 rating provided
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · R-ATP 1,000–1,250 h · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US — careers page
• United Airlines Recruiting
  Unrestricted FAA ATP with multi-engine rating and 1,500 h for direct entry — or flow via Aviate after 1,200–1,600 h PIC at a partner
  Licence: FAA ATP (unrestricted) + ME · Hours: 1,500 h direct entry · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US · no sponsorship — careers page
• WestJet Recruiting
  Mainline B737 needs a TCCA ATPL; Encore Dash 8-400 takes 1,000 h / 100 h PIC with ATPL or CPL + IATRA — type rating provided
  Licence: TCCA ATPL · CPL+IATRA (Encore) · Hours: 1,000 h / 100 h PIC (Encore) · Type rating: Provided · Right to work: Canadian passport / PR — careers page
• Atlas Air Unconfirmed
  1,500 h unrestricted FAA ATP (2,500 h Part 121/135/91/military preferred); passport with 24 months validity; ages 23–65
  Licence: FAA ATP (unrestricted) · Hours: 1,500 h · 2,500 h preferred · Type rating: Not required · provided · Right to work: US · 24-month passport — careers page
• FedEx Express Unconfirmed
  ATP, 1,500 h and a four-year degree published; competitive hires reportedly about 4,000 h with 1,000 h jet PIC
  Licence: FAA ATP · degree · Hours: 1,500 h · 500 h PIC jet/turboprop · Type rating: Not required · Right to work: US citizen / PR — careers page
• JetBlue Unconfirmed
  Published minimums 1,500 h / ATP / First Class; Gateway Select cadet applications open September 2026 — external FO status not confirmed
  Licence: FAA ATP · Hours: 1,500 h published · Type rating: Not required · Right to work: US — careers page
• Spirit Airlines Unconfirmed
  Recalling nearly 500 furloughed pilots (March 2026) while in Chapter 11 — external hiring not confirmed
  Licence: FAA ATP · Hours: 1,500 h (historical) · Type rating: Not required · Right to work: US — careers page
• Sun Country Airlines Unconfirmed
  737 First Officers at Minneapolis–St Paul; College Bridge pathway for UND, Minnesota State and SDSU graduates; US passport (or passport plus green card)
  Licence: FAA ATP / R-ATP (Bridge) · Hours: ATP / R-ATP minimums · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: US passport or green card — careers page
• UPS Airlines Unconfirmed
  ATP, bachelor’s degree and 1,000 h PIC jet or multi-turboprop published; competitive candidates about 4,000 h
  Licence: FAA ATP · degree · Hours: 1,000 h PIC jet/turboprop · Type rating: Not required · Right to work: US — careers page
• Allegiant Air Not recruiting
  First Officer application window closed at the last check; 1,500 h ATP and FAA First Class; the university Accelerate Pathway continues
  Licence: FAA ATP · Hours: 1,500 h · Type rating: Not published · Right to work: Not published — careers page
• Southwest Airlines Not recruiting
  Window-based hiring: 2,500 h total or 1,500 h turbine, FAA ATP, age 23+; the First Officer posting was closed at the last check
  Licence: FAA ATP + AMEL · Hours: 2,500 h total or 1,500 h turbine · Type rating: Not required · B737 provided · Right to work: US · passport — careers page

Common questions

Which US airlines are hiring pilots right now? At the last check Air Canada, Alaska Airlines (incl. Hawaiian), American Airlines, Breeze Airways, Delta Air Lines, Endeavor Air, Envoy Air, Frontier Airlines, Horizon Air, Jazz Aviation (Air Canada Express), Piedmont Airlines, Porter Airlines, PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, SkyWest Airlines, United Airlines, WestJet had an open application or a live posting. Southwest’s First Officer posting was closed between windows, Allegiant’s First Officer window was closed, and JetBlue, Spirit, Sun Country, FedEx, UPS and Atlas could not be confirmed from their own pages.

How many hours do I need for a US airline? 1,500 hours and an FAA ATP for any US Part 121 airline, or a Restricted ATP at 1,250 hours (aviation associate degree), 1,000 hours (aviation bachelor’s) or 750 hours (military) at the regionals. Competitive major-airline applicants typically carry 2,000–4,000 hours with turbine and PIC time.

Can a foreign pilot work for a US airline? Only with unrestricted US work authorisation — citizenship or a green card — and an FAA ATP. No US airline on our board sponsors pilot visas, and FedEx requires citizenship or permanent residence outright.

Which US airlines hire direct entry Captains? None of the majors, cargo carriers or low-cost carriers with a published policy. Command is by seniority at every one; a Captain from another airline joins as a First Officer at the bottom of the list. Some regionals do: Endeavor Air and Piedmont advertised direct-entry Captain routes at the last check, and in Canada Porter (E195-E2) and Jazz take Captains from outside.

What is the fastest way to a US major? A pathway programme that flows you from a regional or a Part 135 operator: United Aviate transitions after 1,200 h PIC at a Part 135 partner or 1,600 h PIC at a United Express carrier; Envoy, Piedmont and PSA flow to American; Endeavor to Delta; Horizon to Alaska. Envoy was paying Captain’s rates from 750 Part 121 hours through the end of 2026.