Emirates has told Gulf News in an interview that it will need to hire as many as 500 new pilots this fiscal year in order to keep up with its expansion plans.
Following the planned delivery to the airline of 36 new wide-body aircraft in the 12 months to March 31, 2017, Emirates has explained its recruitment plans. The airline also said it plans to launch new routes to Asia and the world’s longest non-stop flight to Panama.
“I think it’s going to be more like 400 or 500 … pilots that we’re after [this year],” Gary Chapman, president of group services and dnata at Emirates Group, told Gulf News
Chapman added that this will bring the total of employees hired by the Emirates Group in the same period to 10,000, including 800 Emiratis. Out of a workforce of 95,322, the Emirates Group employs 4,100 pilots.
Earlier in May, the airline announced its 28th consecutive year of profit. His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said, “Our ongoing investments to develop our people and to our enhance business performance, enable us to react with agility to the new challenges and opportunities that every year brings.”
According to Boeing’s most recent Pilot and Technician Outlook, the Middle East airlines will require 6,000 pilots every year to meet expansion plans.
