Asia-Pacific airline leaders are strategizing to address a growing challenge: a potential shortage of skilled aviation professionals amid a tight labour market and shifting generational expectations. According to Tao Ma, regional director of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the region will require hundreds of thousands of pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft maintenance engineers, and cabin crew by 2037. Immediate action to develop the workforce is necessary.
ICAO has completed regional training needs assessments and is creating programs to support talent development, but airlines themselves are implementing initiatives to attract and engage new generations. Cathay Pacific's "I Can Fly" program introduces students to various aviation roles, leading many to pursue careers within the industry. Similarly, Singapore Airlines has highlighted the importance of flexible work policies, with a significant portion of its workforce being millennials and Generation Z employees, who value growth opportunities and work-life balance.
Philippine Airlines’ President, Richard Nuttall, noted the importance of embracing workforce mobility, suggesting that employees gaining experience elsewhere can ultimately return with broader skills that benefit the industry. Additionally, ANA is addressing Japan’s aging workforce by raising pilot age limits and harnessing digital and AI technologies, with over 650,000 use cases of generative AI recorded recently, demonstrating the airline's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Industry leaders agree that presenting a compelling employer narrative is crucial. Ng emphasized that credible, aligned messaging and branding are essential to winning the talent war and ensuring a resilient future for aviation.
