UAE airlines bringing in top talent from India, South Asia to fill roles amidst unprecedented travel demand

UAE airlines bringing in top talent from India, South Asia to fill roles amidst unprecedented travel demand

Dubai: UAE’s airlines are in full recruitment mode, and they are attracting top aviation talent from India and the wider South Asia region. The aviation industry, which was facing a pilot shortage even before 2020, had to put recruitment plans on hold due to the pandemic. According to the consultancy Oliver Wyman, there will be a global gap of 34,000 pilots by 2025 - this could be as high as 50,000 in the most extreme scenarios. “The Gulf has actually attracted a lot of engineers and pilots from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh,” said Mark Martin, CEO of Martin Consulting. “This not just for airlines, but also MRO operators and helicopter companies – this exodus is now being felt in India.” Several Indian airlines and companies have continued salary cuts into 2022, a move that has antagonized aviation staff, who are already dealing with long work hours. Meanwhile, major Gulf-based carriers were early to restore salaries and benefits for their employees, while offering pay packages that are on the higher end of industry standards. “It’s as simple as this – if you don’t treat your people well, they will find a job and move on,” said Martin. “There’s no doubt that