According to Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook (PTO), world’s airlines will need significant personnel through 2042 to support the global commercial fleet.

With the world’s commercial fleet expecting to double by 2042, industry-wide demand for 2.3 million new aviation personnel projected over the next 20 years to support the commercial fleet and meet long-term growth in air travel:

• 649,000 pilots
• 690,000 maintenance technicians
• 938,000 cabin crew members.

“With domestic air travel fully recovered and international traffic near pre-pandemic levels, demand for aviation personnel continues to increase,” said Chris Broom, vice president, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services.

“Our competency-based training and assessment offerings will help ensure high quality training for future and current aviation professionals and continue enhancing aviation safety through immersive and virtual training solutions.”

Through 2042, the PTO projects:

• China, Eurasia and North America drive demand for more than half of new industry personnel, with requirements in China surpassing North America.

• The fastest-growing regions for personnel are Africa, Southeast Asia and South Asia, with their regional demand expected to nearly double.

• After omitting demand for Russia in last year’s PTO due to uncertainty in the region, this year’s forecast includes Russia in the Eurasia region, and it comprises 3% of global demand for personnel.

The PTO forecast includes:

Region	New Pilots	New Technicians	New Cabin Crew
Global	649,000	690,000	938,000
Africa	21,000	22,000	26,000
China	134,000	138,000	161,000
Eurasia	143,000	156,000	235,000
Latin America	38,000	41,000	49,000
Middle East	58,000	58,000	99,000
North America	127,000	125,000	177,000
Northeast Asia	23,000	28,000	39,000
Oceania	10,000	11,000	18,000
South Asia	37,000	38,000	45,000
Southeast Asia	58,000	73,000	89,000