The Pilot Shortage Crisis: Turbulence Ahead for Global Aviation
The global aviation industry is facing an unexpected and alarming challenge – not from fuel prices or environmental regulations, but from an increasing shortage of qualified pilots. As airlines race to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of cockpit crew is threatening to ground their progress.
The pilot shortage has been building for years. However, the pandemic accelerated the problem when thousands of experienced pilots took early retirement during industry shutdowns. Now, as global demand for air travel rebounds – projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2025 (International Air Transport Association [IATA], 2023) – airlines are struggling to recruit and train new pilots fast enough.
A report by Boeing (2023) estimates that the industry will need over 649,000 new pilots globally by 2042 to meet commercial aviation demands. The highest demand is expected in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by North America and Europe.
REFERENCES
Covid-19, the pilot shortage, and flight lessons. Rebel Services – COVID-19, The Pilot Shortage, and Flight Lessons. (2020, December 28). https://www.rebelservices.net/latest-news/covid-19-the-pilot-shortage-and-flight-lessons/
IATA. (n.d.). https://www.iata.org/
Pilot and technician outlook. The Boeing Company Official Website. (n.d.). https://www.boeing.com/commercial/market/pilot-technician-outlook
Flight School Boom: Training the Next Generation of Pilots
By Sochibueze Ajoku
Across Canada, flight schools are experiencing an unprecedented boom in enrollment as aspiring pilots respond to a critical shortage of aviators in the country’s post-pandemic aviation recovery. From Ontario to British Columbia, students are entering training programs in record numbers, hoping to secure positions with major carriers like Air Canada and WestJet. But as demand for new pilots rises, training programs and infrastructure are being stretched to their limits.
Who’s Training – and Why Now?
The Canadian aviation industry is projected to need thousands of new commercial pilots by the end of the decade. According to the Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace, over 7,300 new pilots will be needed by 2025 to meet commercial demand and replace retiring personnel. After COVID-19 grounded most aircraft and delayed new pilot entries, the pressure is now on to fill the gap. (The Canadian Press, 2023)
Flight schools like the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre in Ontario and Pacific Flying Club in Vancouver have reported up to 30% increases in new student enrollment since 2022 (CBC News, 2023).
“Applications surged right after restrictions lifted,” said Jennifer Leduc, flight operations coordinator at a Quebec-based flight training unit. “Students are seeing a real chance at steady, meaningful careers” (CBC News, 2023).
The Cost of Flying High
While pilot training is in demand, it’s far from affordable. In Canada, earning all the ratings required to fly commercially typically costs between CAD $60,000 to $150,000, depending on the institution (Savage, 2024).
This financial barrier has prompted the federal government and airlines to take action. Programs like Air Canada’s Cadet Academy and bursaries offered through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program are helping to make flight school more accessible (Jazz Aviation, 2025).
But challenges remain. Across provinces, flight instructors are in short supply, and training aircraft and simulators are overbooked, leading to long delays for practical flight hours. Edmonton Flying Club student stated that “There’s lots of people wanting to fly and lots of planes, but not enough instructors to get through everyone right now.” (Worsening Pilot Shortage Threatens Canadian Essential Air Service | Aero-News Network, n.d.)
Canada’s Aviation Pipeline Problem
The pandemic accelerated pilot retirements while also reducing new pilot entries, creating what many refer to as a “training pipeline crunch.” As of 2023, Transport Canada reported a continued decline in the issuance of new pilot licenses compared to pre-pandemic years (Damji, 2023).
Aging pilot populations and the need for domestic training have placed added pressure on regional flight centers. To address this, the federal government and aviation colleges are collaborating to expand capacity. Seneca College, for example, now partners with multiple airlines to provide direct-entry programs and job placement pipelines for students (Seneca Flight Services, n.d.).
“We’re building clear bridges from classroom to cockpit,” said Megan Bains, aviation faculty lead at Seneca. “But there’s still a long runway ahead before the supply catches up to demand.”
A Diverse New Generation
There’s a silver lining: this boom is also making Canadian aviation more diverse. Programs encouraging women, Indigenous students, and newcomers to consider aviation careers are helping to reshape the industry’s demographic.
“We get excited to introduce women and girls to careers in aviation” said Nova Andrews. “We’re helping companies better understand how to include Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (Equity Takes Flight, 2023).
What Lies Ahead
With rising enrollment and strong airline hiring forecasts, Canada is primed to rebuild its pilot workforce. But without continued investment in training infrastructure and financial support, flight schools may struggle to keep pace as the demand for skilled workers far exceed the supply.
REFERENCES
Cbc. (2023, February 14). North Bay, Ont., flight school tries to meet pilot shortage demand. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/flight-school-helicopter-canada-north-bay-1.6746554
Damji, N. (2023, January 20). Number of pilot licenses issued in Canada has drastically decreased. NOW Toronto. https://nowtoronto.com/news/number-of-pilot-licenses-issued-in-canada-drastically-decreased/
Equity takes flight. (2023, February 8). Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/funding/equality-action/equity-takes-flight.html
Jazz Aviation Pathways Program – Jazz Aviation LP. (2024, August 22). Jazz Aviation LP. https://flyjazz.ca/en/careers/pilots/pathwaysprogram/
Savage, E. (2024, April 22). How much does it cost to become a pilot in Canada? Discovering Employment Paths and Travel Experiences. https://www.ncesc.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-become-a-pilot-in-canada/
The Canadian Press. (2023, January 19). Canada’s pilot shortage made worse by surge of ‘discount airlines’, aviation experts say. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/9421187/canada-pilot-shortage-discount-airlines/
Worsening pilot shortage threatens Canadian essential air service | Aero-News Network. (n.d.). https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=D47285E5-6749-4638-904E-E61B73995F9B
