Boeing: World’s airlines need to hire 28,000 new pilots annually

Boeing has increased the number of pilots and maintenance technicians it forecasts will be needed by the world’s commercial airlines, reflecting a bulging order book for new aircraft.

In its latest Pilot and Technician Outlook, Boeing projects the need for 558,000 new commercial airline pilots globally over the next 20 years, up 4.7% from its forecast last year.

It also boosted its 20-year forecast for technicians by 4.3% year-over-year, to 609,000. Boeing noted that this means the worldwide airline industry will need to hire “about 28,000 new pilots and more than 30,000 new technicians every year,” for the next 20 years.

The Asia-Pacific region will, by far, have the highest demand for new commercial pilots and technicians from 2015-34, according to Boeing. Asia-Pacific airlines will need to hire 226,000 pilots and 238,000 technicians over the next two decades, the manufacturer said.

North America’s airlines and Europe’s airlines will both need to hire 95,000 pilots over the forecast period, with Europe requiring 101,000 technicians and North America needing 113,000 technicians.

“The challenge of meeting the global demand for airline professionals will not be solved by one company alone. Aircraft manufacturers, airlines, training equipment manufacturers, training delivery organizations, regulatory agencies and educational institutions are all stepping up to meet the increasing need to train and certify pilots and technicians,” Boeing Flight Services VP Sherry Carbary said in a statement.

(Aaron Karp - ATWOnline News)