Boeing Anticipates Significant Demand for Pilots, Technicians, Cabin Crew in Middle East

Boeing [NYSE: BA] reports that over the next 20 years the Middle East will see significant demand for commercial airline pilots, technicians and cabin crew, accounting for 10 percent of the overall global need for pilots and technicians and 12 percent of cabin crew.

The 2017 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, an industry forecast of aviation personnel demand, saw an increase in the forecast over last year, with pilot demand increasing to 63,000 (an 8.6 percent increase) and cabin crew demand increasing to 96,000 (a 4.3 percent increase). While anticipated overall global demand for technicians dropped 4.6 percent from last year, anticipated demand for technicians in the Middle East remained steady at 66,000.

With new airplane deliveries to the region forecasted to be split nearly 50-50 between single-aisle and twin-aisle airplanes, there is a similar split in anticipated personnel demand. Nearly half of new pilots and technicians will be needed to support single-aisle airplanes, and the other half will be needed to support twin-aisle airplanes. The split for cabin crew, however, is more heavily weighted toward twin-aisle airplanes due to regulations that require more cabin crew to staff larger airplanes.