Gulf airlines are finding it tough to fill up high-skill jobs

Gulf airlines are finding it tough to fill up high-skill jobs

Dubai: Gulf airlines have ramped up recruitment efforts across all levels as they add more flights and bring their networks to pre-Covid levels. But there are some new realities facing airlines. Many potential employees, including pilots and cabin crew, left the aviation industry altogether during the pandemic and have taken up IT, public relations and consultancy roles. Some took to early retirements, which too is expected to permanently decrease the supply. According to an Oliver Wyman report, after past crises such as 9/11 and the global financial crisis of 2008, new pilot certifications fell 30 to 40 per cent during the five years after the initial shock. The consultancy expects around 25,000-35,000 current and future pilots to choose alternative career paths over the next decade. To retain or attract new talent, airlines need to offer long-term career growth. Maen Razouqi, CEO of Kuwait Airways, which is currently hiring, said earlier that too little was being done in the industry to develop talent. “This industry has not been well structured and made attractive for career progressions,” said Razouqi. “Pilots and engineers have a very clear career progression, but remaining 60-70 per cent of the workforce don’t have that much visibility on