Airline Jobs in the US
65Pilots and flight attendants get all the guts and glory stuff and headlines, but that's just one tiny part that's up front and in the air.
On the ground and behind the scenes, a major airline will employ tens of thousands of staff for everything from baggage handling and maintenance to security and check-in.
If you want to make a career out of keeping planes up in the air, continue reading.
Southwest
Southwest began operations in 1971, and has been profitable for 37 years running.
This is a stunning record, given the hard times airlines have gone thourgh in the last decade, with 9/11, the dot-com bust and then the 2008-2009 recession.
Southwest has nearly 35,000 employees, operates 3100 flights/day and carried 86 million passengers to 68 cities in 35 states last year.
To view job listings at Southwest Airlines, click here.
Virgin America
Richard Branson's American 'experiment' finally got itself certified as an 100% American airline, and is now looking good for some massive expansion.
If you want to sign up, they want to know only one thing - are you Virgin enough for Virgin America?
In their own words, "Virgin America is not for everyone. The courage to re-invent yourself and the airline industry does not call upon the meek, the satiated and the comfortable."
If you still think you can make the cut, visit Virgin America's jobs page, and check out the career opportunities.
Jetblue
In an industry of leviathons offering red-tape and insensitivity, Jetblue stands apart as a young and nimble operator who understands and quickly responds to the needs of today's customer.
From their savvy social media outreach to their discount schemes and promotions and the swanky Jetblue Terminal in JFK, everything about this 10 yr old company points towards the future of the airline industry.
Check out what Jetblue has to offer as a prospective employer. Create a profile and/or search for available jobs.
US Airways
I didn't want to list a legacy airline among the featured ones, but there was no other way to tell the story of Chesley Sullenberger aka Captain Sully.
Captain Sully retired in March 2010 at the age of 59, after having worked for US Airways for 30 years.
He piled up a stellar record as a pilot, but his finest hour was when he crash-landed Flight 1549 safely on the Hudson River in Jan 2009.
He saved the lives of every single one of his passengers and crew, and the story has come to be known as the Hudson Miracle.
If you're looking for an idol and a career to emulate, look no further than Captain Sully.
Start your search for US Airways jobs here.
Job search pages for the remaining major US airlines are listed below.
Photo credits:- Top photos courtesy Southwest; VA - davitydave; Jetblue Terminal - Doug Letterman; Sully - Ingrid Taylar
