Pilot shortage

[PPRuNeUser0198]

There is no pilot shortage. There is a shortage of suitably qualified i.e. hours or type rated pilots. Aircrew numbers are based on projected growth in aviation. In particular, the increase in point-to-point, narrow-body aircraft, with greater range.

From 2015 to 2030, China, India, and the remainder of Asia-Pacific will add 2.1 billion (or 89%) of the nearly 2.4 billion new entrants to the existing 3.2 billion person global middle class. By 2030, presumably China will add around 800 million to the middle class and India more than 900 million alone. This is a considerable volume of people who will travel.

As cASK reduces, a result of (but not limited to) newer technologies and scale economies - this will only see significant growth in the demand in air transportation.


References: Brookings. 2017. THE UNPRECEDENTED EXPANSION OF THE GLOBAL MIDDLE CLASS. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content...ddle-class.pdf.