A global shortage of aircraft operators is predicted when the coronavirus pandemic ultimately, someday, comes to a close and demand for travel comes roaring back, a consulting firm has predicted. In a new report, the New York-based Oliver Wyman called the COVID-19 pandemic a "momentary reprieve" for an already-ailing supply of pilots. When the pandemic began, demand for travel ceased almost overnight, prompting major carriers to furlough or lay off thousands of aviators. According to Oliver Wyman, though the global in-service fleet has already risen to 76% of pre-pandemic levels (and in China, 99%) a "supply shock" has struck the aviation industry. Though some furloughed pilots will ultimately return to the job they trained for, others will not, perhaps pushed into early retirement by their employer or choosing to follow another career path. Would-be pilots, too, may be wary of entering the "cyclical" industry amid a future of uncertainty.
Source: Fox News