Aircraft maker Boeing anticipates exponential rise in Southeast Asia aviation personnel demand 

Aviation staffing demand will more than triple in the next two decades with fastest growth seen in South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa.

According to aircraft maker Boeing's 2024 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO) report, the aviation industry will require nearly 2.4 million new professionals to support growing commercial fleets and meet long-term increase in air travel.

Commercial carriers will need the following new personnel through 2043 to sustain the global commercial fleet, including 674,000 pilots, 716,000 maintenance technicians, and 980,000 cabin crew members, the report says.

In 2043, Southeast Asia will need 60,000 new pilots, 77,000 maintenance technicians, and 97,000 cabin crew members, the report estimates.

It quotes Chris Broom, vice president, commercial training solutions, Boeing Global Services, as saying: “Driven by aviation traffic trending above pre-pandemic levels, personnel attrition and commercial fleet growth, the demand for aviation personnel continues to rise.

“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.”

The report also says that demand for new personnel will be driven primarily by single aisle airplanes, except in Africa and Middle East where widebody airplane demand leads.

It says Eurasia, China and North America will drive demand for more than half of new industry personnel, while South Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa will be the fastest-growing regions for personnel, with staffing demand more than tripling over the next 20 years.

Two-thirds of new personnel will address replacement due to attrition, while one- third will support growth in commercial fleets, the report adds.