South, Southeast Asia, Africa are fastest-growing regions for staffing.
Pilot prepares aircraft for departure (Photo: Shutterstock | Demkat)
Boeing projects a demand of nearly 2.4 million new pilots, technicians, and cabin crew jobs worldwide through 2043 as commercial aviation markets in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa continue to grow.
According to a news release from Boeing, the company’s 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO) shows the industry will require these new professionals to support the growing commercial fleet and meet the long-term increase in air travel.
The PTO report estimates a need for 674,000 new pilots, 716,000 new maintenance technicians, and 980,000 new cabin crew members to sustain the global commercial fleet through 2043.
The report projects demand for new personnel driven primarily by single-aisle airplanes, except in Africa and the Middle East where widebody airplane demand leads. Eurasia, China, and North America drive demand for more than half of new industry personnel.
South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa are the fastest-growing regions for personnel with staffing demands expected to more than triple over the next 20 years, the report states. Two-thirds of the newly hired personnel will address replacement due to attrition, while one-third supports growth in the commercial fleet.
The PTO forecast projects the following industry needs through 2043:
| Region | New Pilots | New Technicians | New Cabin Crew |
| Global | 674,000 | 716,000 | 980,000 |
| Africa | 23,000 | 25,000 | 28,000 |
| China | 130,000 | 137,000 | 163,000 |
| Eurasia | 155,000 | 167,000 | 240,000 |
| Latin America | 39,000 | 42,000 | 54,000 |
| Middle East | 68,000 | 63,000 | 104,000 |
| North America | 123,000 | 123,000 | 184,000 |
| Northeast Asia | 25,000 | 30,000 | 43,000 |
| Oceania | 11,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 |
| South Asia | 40,000 | 40,000 | 49,000 |
| Southeast Asia | 60,000 | 77,000 | 97,000 |
“Driven by aviation traffic trending above pre-pandemic levels, personnel attrition and commercial fleet growth, the demand for aviation personnel continues to rise,” said Chris Broom, vice president of commercial training solutions for Boeing Global Services, in the news release. “We are focused on being a reliable and innovative partner in the lifecycle of aviation training. Our offerings are rooted in competency-based training and assessment programs to help ensure high quality aviation training starting in flight schools and in commercial operations while helping enhance aviation safety through immersive and virtual training solutions.”
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