The British Air Line Pilots Association (BALPA) has warned that claims of a worldwide pilot shortage are “unfounded and not backed up by independent analysis nor evidence”.
The pilot union said there had been increased recruitment across UK and European airlines in recent months, but said it was important not to get carried away with reports of the positive hiring situation.
BALPA
“In 2023 we have seen increased recruitment across a large portion of UK and European airlines. This recruitment need is predominantly being met by experienced pilots, however we are delighted to see a proportion of those jobs being filled by pilots who have not previously held a commercial flying position,” the union said.
“This recruitment need is predominantly being met by experienced pilots, however we are delighted to see a proportion of those jobs being filled by pilots who have not previously held a commercial flying position.
“This follows a period of seeing a large number of those pilots who were made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic, either return to their pre-pandemic positions or gain new positions elsewhere.”
Pilot hiring
BALPA added: “It is therefore our prediction that from 2024 for an unknown period, we are likely to see a sustained reduction in the number of unemployed experienced pilots and an increased demand for newly qualified pilots – increased demand compared to 2020-2022 requirements.
“However, we believe that claims of a ‘worldwide pilot shortage’ are unfounded and not backed up by independent analysis nor evidence. We do acknowledge that the United States is currently experiencing an acute pilot shortage and that eastern and southern Asia are experiencing a shortage of experienced pilots. However, these two localised shortages are not what is being experienced elsewhere in the world.”
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