The global pilot shortage is a challenge to the world's airlines

The world's airlines have to recruit significant numbers of new pilots annually, according to forecasts from Boeing, Airbus and the flight training provider CAE.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation analysis of these forecasts suggests that the annual intake of new pilots needs to be around 7% to 9% of the existing active pilot population.

Asia Pacific is expected to need the most new pilots, but typically it recruits significant numbers from other parts of the world.

North America's pilot shortfall is expected to remain significant due to an aging pilot population, departures during the pandemic, and supply constraints.

Increasing the diversity of the pilot recruitment pool, lowering the financial barriers to pilot training, and the use of new technology are some of the ways to ease the problem. However, a global pilot shortage is set to remain a challenge to the world's airlines.