Pilot shortage looms as next challenge for airlinesBloombergAfter being thrust into crisis by COVID-19, the aviation industry faces yet more trouble as the world emerges from the worst of the pandemic to find there is likely to be a shortage of pilots after thousands were laid off or decided to retire. Alpha Aviation has trained more than 2,500 pilots for carriers including Philippine Airlines, AirAsia Group, Cebu Pacific Air Inc and Air Arabia. Modern, longer-distance narrow-body aircraft such as Airbus SE’s A321 XLR jets — due to be delivered from 2023 — are to require more pilots than earlier models, compounding the shortage, Choudhrie said from London. “Airlines are going to continue to buy, modernize their fleets, and as they do that, they are going to require pilots,” he said. Airlines typically order aircraft years in advance given the limited production capacity of plane manufacturers.

Source: Taipei Times September 21, 2021 15:56 UTC