Link: Pilot shortage threatens Japan’s goal for 60 million tourists

Japan is experiencing a severe shortage of pilots amidst an increase in tourism, complicating plans to meet a goal of attracting 60 million visitors by 2030. Measures to remedy this include the fast, affordable conversion of foreign pilots’ licenses.

However, hiring overseas pilots presents challenges, such as union resistance and lower pay scale compared to international airlines. The impending retirement of many current airline captains further exacerbates the issue.

“Major airlines will need to revise their operational processes for non-Japanese speaking pilots,” said Nobuhito Abe from Kearney. He emphasizes that current procedures are very domestically centered.

The pay disparity with international airlines is another concern - pilots at Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways earn significantly less than their counterparts at Delta Air Lines or American Airlines, which would make it harder to attract foreign pilots.

Furthermore, the influx of foreign pilots may not sit well with local staff, many of whom view their job as a lifelong profession, resulting in unease over promotions and treatment.

The expert panel arranged by the transport ministry is also considering options such as incentivizing captains to continue working post-retirement and recruiting more female pilots. By failing to boost Japan's pilot numbers, the country risks falling short on its tourism targets.  #

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Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.