Pilot shortage………….
A report in The Australian says that Australia’s biggest private regional carrier has warned that a looming pilot shortage will lead to more flight cancellations and help drive smaller airlines to the wall.
Regional Express said yesterday that Australia was facing a pilot shortage that would turn into a crisis for regional carriers in as little as 12months as demand for staff by bigger carriers intensified.
The regional carrier estimates Australia will need an additional 1800 pilots over the next two years but is likely to train less than half that.
It warned that this could result in some regional centres losing their air services, problems for emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and more smaller airlines going to the wall.
Rex chief of staff Jim Davis said some airlines were already struggling to find enough pilots to crew their regular schedules and were being forced to cancel flights.
Mr Davis pointed to Transport Department statistics showing that Rex cancelled 0.9 per cent of its flightsfor July, while Qantas cancelled 1.6 per cent, Qantaslink 1 per cent, Virgin Blue 1.1 per cent and Jetstar 0.3per cent.
“The Rex cancellation rate, for example, is now running at four times historical levels,” he said.
But he said the situation was expected to get far worse, and carriers in regional areas would bear the brunt of the problem as major airlines intensified their raids for staff.
The smaller operators had no defence against such massive recruitment and were in no position to match the salaries and conditions of their bigger counterparts.
“Over the last three months, more than 20 per cent of our pilots have been poached by Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas and I am sure the situation is similar or worse in other regional carriers,” Mr Davis said.
“It is almost too late to avert some of the disastrous consequences in Australia of the looming pilot shortage, as it takes at least eight months to train a new pilot.”
Rex has moved to address the shortage by starting up a cadet scheme that will train 40 people a year and Mr Davis yesterday called on the federal Government to subsidise training for young aviators.
Training for a commercial licence costs about $80,000 and airline chief pilots have identified this as a major impediment to recruitment.
Qantas has also moved to revamp its pilot training and encourage more young people into the industry, while Transport Minister Mark Vaile has ordered a report on the issue and has been talking to ministerial colleagues about including pilot training in HECS.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps