Japan’s largest airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), are preparing for a surge in travel demand by announcing a combined recruitment drive for over 3,700 new employees in the coming year.

This significant hiring push reflects the positive outlook for the aviation industry following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANA Holdings, the parent company of ANA, plans to bring on board approximately 2,900 new hires across its various subsidiaries, including cabin attendants, pilots, and information technology engineers.

This represents a 200-person increase compared to their previous recruitment year. JAL, meanwhile, is looking to add 700 flight attendants, 50 pilots, and 100 staff members for business planning.

The hiring spree comes amidst a booming travel industry in Japan, fueled by a weaker yen that attracts more foreign tourists and continued strong domestic and international travel demand.

This positive trend has boosted financial performance for both airlines, with ANA raising its operating profit forecast for the current fiscal year by 35% and JAL exceeding analyst expectations for their third-quarter net income.

The timing of the recruitment drive coincides with the traditional cycle in Japan, where companies typically begin their recruitment process in March and welcome new hires the following April, marking the beginning of the new fiscal year.

This mass hiring demonstrates the airlines’ confidence in the recovery of the travel industry and their commitment to meet the anticipated travel surge.