Mar 22, 2024
For those aspiring to become professional pilots, 2024 is rapidly emerging as the best time ever to launch your aviation career. Demand for pilots is soaring worldwide, with aviation companies rapidly returning to profitability after the long COVID years and desperately seeking qualified, experienced staff. If you’ve always dreamt of spreading your wings with an aviation career, read on to find out why 2024 is a pivotal year for aspiring pilots and aviation professionals.
What Is The Demand For Pilots In 2024 And Beyond?
The COVID-19 pandemic presented extraordinary and unprecedented challenges for the aviation industry. Among other things, the global disruption caused by the pandemic has left a significant training gap within the sector, ultimately resulting in a current lack of availability of all levels of pilots, particularly entry-level pilots.
It is these unique circumstances have resulted in the global demand for pilots reaching never before seen levels, with recent insights from major aircraft manufacturers and global aviation leaders Boeing stating that over the next 20 years, 649,000 new pilots will be needed to fill the growing demand. Interestingly, reflecting an industry-wide trend this skill shortage isn’t just limited to pilots, it also includes flight instructors, maintenance technicians, and flight crew.
Why Is There A Pilot Shortage?
Major aircraft manufacturer Boeing releases regular studies and industry stats throughout the year which offer helpful insight into current aviation needs and trends including pilots in training, aircraft orders and industry trends. This research is useful for estimating where pilot shortages currently are and what the future holds, plus any industry influenced resources that will be needed including planes and other essential employees.
In the current estimate for the years 2024-2042, Boeing believes there will be unprecedented demand for new pilots requiring 649,000 new pilots worldwide (as stated above). Globally, this can be further broken down into different regions, with China, Eurasia and North America making up a total of 50% of the world’s demand, with nearly 134,000, 143,000 and 130,000 pilots needed, respectively.
From this research, we can deduce that while the pandemic has played a crucial part in the current demand for pilots, the critical shortage of pilots worldwide also stems from the continuing expansion of airline fleets to meet growing travel demand, the continuing struggle to attract and maintain and increase staffing levels, and the added complication of an aging population of experienced airline pilots nearing retirement.
Growing demand for international and domestic travel has been driving the aviation industry for many years, even before the pandemic, the demand was difficult to meet. Regions like China and India have experienced tremendous population growth and wealth with many people looking to travel much more than in previous years. At the same time, areas such as the United States face large proportions of pilots and aviation crew approaching retirement age (some having taken early voluntary retirement over the COVID years (when widespread layoffs occurred). In fact, Boeing states that over 25% of commercial pilots will reach mandatory retirement age within the next ten years.
It is widely accepted that the demand for pilots will remain consistent in the foreseeable future as airlines attempt to keep up with supply and demand while navigating the longer-term airline pilot shortage. Resulting in raised salaries, improved benefits, increased bonuses, and greater benefits and employment packages.
Aviation Opportunities Around the World
Different parts of the world are going about tackling the pilot shortage challenge in different ways, let’s take a quick look at the major players below.
Europe’s Growing Demand For Pilots
Europe’s aviation market is instigating more innovative approaches to expedite pilot training as it struggles with the high demand for pilots and lack of availability. European airlines have become increasingly open to hiring freshly trained commercial pilot graduates which offers a unique opportunity for new pilots to enter the industry.
The US Aviation Market
With both regional and mainline airlines actively seeking pilots, the US is said to be experiencing a hiring boom opening the door for international pilots who are able to work in the US (there is a requirement of a minimum of 1,500 flying hours). Some of the big airlines, including United, Delta and Southwest, are operating their own pilot training facilities to aid in reducing the persistent pilot shortages.
New Zealand And Australia
Returning a little closer to home, the aviation landscape in Australia and New Zealand faces similar issues as the larger counties but on a smaller scale. The demand for pilots here has led to trickier issues, such as flight schools facing challenges in finding experienced instructors and the availability of highly experienced pilots as the majority are drawn to overseas markets and the associated increase in pay levels. On the up side this has resulted in some Australian airlines lowering their initial recruitment requirements from 1,500 to 500 total flying hours.
What The Pilot Shortage Means For Current And Future Pilots
With Boeing and other experts predicting the demand for air travel to maintain a consistent pattern, there are no signs of industry staffing needs slowing any time soon. This means that as a direct result of demand consistently exceeding supply, it follows that the expected salaries for airline pilots will increase. This may also include a growing need for attractive bonuses, better retirement packages, and any number of other benefits offered to attract and retain pilots during their careers.
Career progression may also be positively affected with pilot upgrades whether it be from regional to international or from First Officer to Captain, all expected to occur at a much faster rates than in the past. This more rapid succession to pilot seniority represents untold opportunities for pilots in the right place at the right time of the hiring curve, offering better pay rates, added benefits and increased ongoing job security. There really has never been a better time to start your airline pilot training!
Embarking On Your Aviation Journey In NZ
For those considering a career in aviation, a commitment to planning ahead and seeking appropriate guidance where necessary is essential. Prospective pilots should think carefully about their longer-term goals and follow a carefully mapped path from PPL through to ATPL.
An important part of this journey is choosing the right flight training provider, particularly if you are seeking a career in the civil aviation industry (airline transport). As NZ is a relatively small country, where you train can have a big impact on future employment opportunities through the contacts made and even the reputation of the training institution.
Student Loans For Pilots
For students in NZ, the availability of student loans, fees free and other support is a significant advantage to pilots wishing to begin (or complete) their flight training and accumulation of flying hours. These types of financial support allow students to focus on their training goals with some assistance in maintaining their longer-term flight training goals and tuition fees.
In New Zealand, it is possible to receive a student loan up to the limit of $35,000 per year, provided your training is completed at a NZQA Accredited Training Provider, see the StudyLink website for more information on student loans for pilot training in NZ.
It is also possible at the time of writing to qualify for the Fees Free study scheme, up to a limit of $12,000 for the first year of study. See this handy fact sheet from the Tertiary Education Commission for more information.
Fees Free For Pilots Fact Sheet
There’s never been a better time to start a professional pilot training program with 2024 offering a unique window of opportunity for those aspiring to a professional flying career. Are you ready to become an airline pilot? Pursue a fulfilling career as a professional pilot and get in touch with the Southern Wings Flight School today for more information.