13 pilots per plane sounds like more than enough. Each plane needs two pilots at a time. Each plane is manned maybe 105 hours a week (say 17 hours a day on ave

13 pilots per plane sounds like more than enough. Each plane needs two pilots at a time. Each plane is manned maybe 105 hours a week (say 17 hours a day on average, less 5% of the time in maintenance), so it requires 210 pilot-hours per week. A full time employee works about 35 hours a week after sick leave and holidays. So you need about six full-time pilots per plane. Pilots spend some time in training and admin outside of the plane, but it could hardly amount to enough to double the staffing requirements, especially for Southwest who are famously lean and efficient. I'd guess a significant number of the 10,000 are on standby or get limited hours (but of course need to be trained to the same level as full-timers).