© AFP
According to a report from Iceland Monitor, flight schools in Iceland will not be able to keep up with demand for airline pilots, if aviation continues to grow at the present rate. This warning has come from Hafsteinn Pálsson, Head of the Icelandic Pilots’ Association.
Last year, Icelandic airlines Icelandair and WOW air recruited 80-90 new pilots and a shortage of experienced Icelandic pilots is on the horizon, especially for domestic flight operations.
Pálsson estimated the number of full-time equivalent pilot jobs with Icelandic airlines to have increased by 30-40% in the past five years. He also identified that Icelandic domestic airline Eagle Air has seen eight pilots transfer over to international flying this winter and have had to recruit pilots from abroad to replace them.
