The last few years haven’t been particularly kind to those working in aviation. With drastic losses of income, most airlines have relied on government funding in order to stay alive. Air traffic plummeted in 2020, and revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) dropped by 68%, from 8.9 trillion to 2.9 trillion.
The world is hungry for air travel
Now, at a time where more borders open in lieu of the seemingly milder omicron variant and more fully vaccinated people, the aerospace industry is reportedly showing strong signs of recovery. According to McKinsey research, the world is hungry for air travel. “History has shown that following an economic crisis, aircraft construction eventually returns to its pre-crisis way of operating and sales figures”, the report states.
By 2023, the total number of RPK’s will likely reach above the pre-pandemic level of 8.9 trillion.
According to McKinsey’s base-case scenario, the revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) will increase to approximately 7.1 trillion in 2022, which amounts to approximately 80% of the 2019 levels. By 2023, the total number of RPK’s will likely reach above the pre-pandemic level of 8.9 trillion.
Airbus’ lofty recruitment goal
In lieu of the COVID-19 crisis, Airbus was forced to reduce its international workforce by approximately 15,000 positions. Now, the European multinational aerospace corporation aims to be ahead of the trend. It has publicly stated its desire to hire 6,000 new employees worldwide across the entire group.
“[Sustainable aviation] can only be achieved by acquiring the right talents in the various domains of expertise that will help us grow our activities as we come out of the crisis.”
“Airbus has demonstrated resilience throughout the COVID crisis, and has laid the foundations for a bold future for sustainable aviation”, said Thierry Baril, Airbus Chief Human Resources & Workplace Officer. “This can only be achieved by acquiring the right talents in the various domains of expertise that will help us grow our activities as we come out of the crisis. While preparing the long-term transformation of the Company.”
Emphasis on new skills
It won’t just be any type of recruitment effort. Airbus’ strategy will largely revolve around the acquisition of new skills it needs in the post-COVID-19 world. Those skills have to support Airbus’ long-term projects and ambitions. “About a quarter of the planned recruitments should focus on acquiring the new skills to support our long-term projects and ambition. Notably in the fields of decarbonisation, digital transformation and cyber technology”, the company stated. After its initial wave of recruitment, the company has said it will re-assess and adjust accordingly.
Read more:
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- Amid impending labour shortage, Germany aims to recruit 400,000 immigrants every year
