While I agree Delta will have a large number of retirements, A large number of retirments over a 7 year periods would be 2000, not 7000. Delta was a small airlines till relatively recently and has already done a large amount of hiring. I don't see them absorbing 5000 more pilots.
The best airline for a retirement curve currently is American. American already has 12000 pilots, and starting in 05 or so will be retiring almost 500 a year. A little more if you thrown in TWA (which would then bring American to 14500 pilots)
As an AA pilot, I agree they are gonna hire for the forseeable future. However, Crew planning which developes the needs, only defines the forseeable future as the 2nd quarter of 02. They have no idea what they will do beyond then. They might even furlough as they bring pilots across from TWA. (not likely, but who knows? Not even AA management)
They won't untill september start projecting next years flying.
Yes you have seen some incredible hiring by the major airlines over the last year or two, but that is a short term abberation as the FARs were changed requireing about 1/3 more pilots on the reserve lists.
All the majors have now caught up with that, and no one is now expanding fleet capacity so... Its just a pitch to get you to pay more money.
Cheers
Wino