By Gaurav Raghuvanshi
SINGAPORE--Boeing Co. (BA) expects Asia Pacific to need 440,000
pilots and technical staff over the next 20 years, as airlines buy
more planes.
The latest forecast by the Seattle-based aircraft maker is for
216,000 new pilots and 224,000 technicians needed through 2033, Bob
Bellitto, the director of customer group at Boeing Flight Services
told reporters on Thursday.
The number of pilots is 12% more than the company's forecast
last year and the number of technicians projected is 4% higher, he
said.
China will absorb 98,000 pilots and 101,000 technicians over the
period, followed by Southeast Asia that is projected to need 55,000
pilots and an equal number of technicians.
Boeing expects airlines in Asia Pacific to take deliveries of
13,460 new airplanes valued at over $2 trillion over the next 20
years.
To address the rising demand for flying crew, Boeing has
announced a program under which flight schools certified by the
company will train pilots for partner airlines.
Boeing aims to train about 500 pilots each year under the Boeing
Pilot Development Program and expects the first announcement by an
airline partner before the end of the year, said Mr. Bellitto.
Write to Gaurav Raghuvanshi at gaurav.raghuvanshi@wsj.com
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