Plane maker Boeing says commercial airlines will need to recruit more than half a million new pilots over the next 20 years to keep pace with air travel demand.
Boeing’s 2015 Pilot and Technician Outlook projects a need for about 558,000 new pilots with 40% required in the fastest growing market of Asia Pacific.
"The challenge of meeting the global demand for airline professionals will not be solved by one company alone," said Sherry Carbary, vice president of Boeing Flight Services.
"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."
We will continue to increase the amount of training we provide, enabling our customers to satisfy the world’s growing appetite for air travel," Carbary added.
North America and Europe will each need to recruit about 95,000 new pilots over the same period, while even more maintenance technicians will be required.
About 38,000 new aircraft will be added to fleets globally over the next two decades, and more than 100,000 qualified technicians will be needed in North America and Europe.
Again Asia Pacific has the greatest demand with 238,000 technicians needed
