Boeing forecast demand for 649,000 new pilots over next 20 years

Boeing has released its 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook. It forecasts a demand for 649,000 new pilots over the next twenty years, including 143,000 in Europe.

“Air travel demand is outpacing economic growth as domestic markets have fully recovered from the pandemic years, while international traffic is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Effective training and an adequate supply of personnel remain critical to maintain the health, safety and prosperity of the global aviation ecosystem.

The demand for training and related services has shown signs of faster recovery, but the industry still faces lingering challenges in meeting the demand. Among them are insufficient training capacity to support significant personnel shortage and the lag time required to bring personnel online while continuing to prioritise safety. To support the recovery and growth driven by expansion of global fleets, the aviation industry will need a long-term strategy that addresses upcoming labor challenges. Investment in early career development programs and outreach efforts that spark excitement among future aviators will be essential to a healthy aviation market for years to come.

Long-term demand for newly-qualified aviation personnel remains strong, as 649,000 new pilots, 690,000 new maintenance technicians and 938,000 new cabin crew members will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years.”

New pilot opportunities aplenty as market recovers and grows

“Demand for pilots is likely to soar.

Because the industry already was heading toward a global pilot shortage before the pandemic, many airlines instituted cadet pilot programs to fill their talent pipelines. Operators that paused or cancelled these programs during the pandemic will likely resume their focus on new pilot development. Concurrently, the industry as a whole must address a global shortage of certified flight instructors.

Two factors have driven the shortfall globally and regionally: During the downturn, many junior pilots lost their jobs; some will not return, having changed careers and left the industry altogether. Through the same period, numerous veteran pilots accepted voluntary early retirement packages; those who remain will no longer be able to fly commercially once they reach the mandatory retirement age.”

Europe remains the largest market for new pilots

“Europe remains the largest market for new pilots, technicians and cabin crew. Much of this demand is fuelled by over half of the single-aisle deliveries going to European-based LCCs. European airlines are increasing their pilot hiring efforts to meet near-term demand with cadet apprentice programs remaining key enablers for airlines to meet their growth projections.”

Read more at Boeing.com →