OREANDA-NEWS. PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group (Nasdaq:AAL), today announced significant changes to its pilot pay program, including industry-leading wages for new-hire pilots, an increased sign-on bonus for new recruits and retention bonuses for First Officers and Captains to create a top-tier compensation structure – marking a monumental milestone for the airline. These valuable enhancements, which are effective immediately, elevate PSA to the top of the regional industry in first-year compensation for new-hire pilots. This is an important milestone for the company’s recruiting mission to hire the best and brightest future aviators in the industry to carry out its future plans as a vital part of the American Airlines regional network.

Details of the new compensation package include a 56 percent increase to the starting pay for new-hire First Officers, increasing wages from $24.62 per hour to $38.50 per hour. The airline will continue offering all new-hire pilots a $15,000 sign-on bonus, with an additional $5,000 for new-hire pilots with CRJ-type experience. PSA is also implementing a $20,000 retention bonus for First Officers hired under this new program to be paid out in installments after their one-year anniversary with the company. PSA is also instituting a $7,500 retention bonus for all Captains currently employed with the company.

With these changes, first-year pay for new-hire pilots now tops the regional industry at $58,500, plus an additional $3,000 with a commuter hotel allowance program implemented earlier this year. A pilot starting their commercial aviation career with PSA can reasonably expect to reach Captain and earn between $165,000 and $175,000 in compensation for their first three years of service with the company. 

As a stable carrier owned by the largest airline in the world, PSA has a defined and committed fleet and growth plan. Since 2014, PSA has doubled its size from 49 aircraft to 115 aircraft and will continue to grow to operate 150 Bombardier CRJ aircraft.

Today’s announcement builds on the success of PSA’s sustained recruitment platform which includes the recent introduction and continued development of the airline’s Cadet Program. The program is the first of its kind and helps the most promising future pilots make a smooth transition from the classroom at top colleges, universities and flight schools to the cockpit and offers various levels of support as the Cadet’s certifications, training and experience evolves.

About PSA Airlines
PSA Airlines operates an all-jet fleet consisting of exclusively Bombardier regional jet aircraft. The company’s 2,500 employees operate nearly 700 daily flights to nearly 90 destinations. Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, PSA also has flight crew bases located in Dayton, Cincinnati, Ohio, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Charlotte, North Carolina. PSA has maintenance facilities in Dayton and Canton, Ohio and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina. PSA operates 35 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, 26 Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft and 54 Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. The airline expects to add additional Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft to its fleet in the next two years, bringing its fleet count to 150.