The ups and downs of this industry are too large and unpredictable to be able to say whether an individual will have to wait until 2008 to get a job. The airline industry in the US is about (that is, within the next 18 months) to undergo a major shake-up which will probably see the major 6 becoming the major 4. The staff cost base (particularly pilot salaries) will be reduced considerably from the ridiculous levels of a couple of years ago - United and American have staff costs of around 50% of revenue! In comparison, Virgin's is 15.9%, BA's around 27%. Once this restructuring is achieved - and it will be painful - the US industry will recover sharply.
Scroggs