Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the aviation industry was facing a looming labour shortage, particularly among mechanics and technicians. Following the industry’s worst year ever, where does the situation stand now?

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a number of historic problems for the aviation industry. From steep drops in passenger numbers to sharp increases in parked and retired aircraft, the crisis delivered one blow after the other.

But not every problem the industry faces is a new one. For years, there have been concerns about an eventual shortage of mechanics and technicians. Boeing and Airbus have said that the MRO industry will need at least 600,000 new technicians over the next two decades, while a 2017 analysis by international consultancy Oliver Wyman predicted that demand for aviation mechanics would outpace capacity already by 2022.

What was once seen as a future problem is here now, particularly after some 1.3 million airline industry jobs were lost last year and only a five percent industry-wide employment increase was expected in 2021.

Senior talent gone

In an exclusive interview with the Satair Knowledge Hub, Gary Peterson, director of the Transport Workers Union of America’s (TWU) Air Division, said that COVID-19 almost certainly accelerated the mechanic and technician shortage.

“Without COVID, that timeline [demand outpacing supply by 2022, ed.] might have been extended a year or two because the field was seeing an influx of money and benefits that it hadn’t seen in many, many years,” he said. “Now with COVID coming into play, the vast majority of airlines have offered early-out packages for people to leave.”

Why aren't there more young aircraft mechanics?

Digital services

Quick Links

Quick Links

Legal Links

How a strong COVID recovery can worsen the aircraft mechanic shortage