Japan has about 7,100 pilots and the government estimates an additional 1,000 are needed by 2030
World-renowned for its hospitality, food, history and now an extremely popular destination due to a devaluation of the local currency, Japan has opened its doors to international tourism, expecting a record number of foreign visitors this year. An obstacle to this vision, however, appears to be local airlines, which are facing a severe pilot shortage.
In particular, Japan has about 7,100 pilots and the government estimates that an additional 1,000 are needed by 2030 to meet its target of attracting 60 million tourists that year. Since filling the specific jobs is directly linked to the economic goals of the world's fourth largest economy, targeted measures are being considered, including the search for talent abroad with a fast-track process for recognizing pilot licenses in the country.
However, even this possible passage will not be an easy task, as local labor unions oppose the hiring of foreign pilots, and wages in Japanese airlines are generally lower than in other countries. In the meantime, however, with a large proportion of active pilots in the country over 50 and due to retire around 2030, there is even more pressure to solve the problem.
“Major airlines will have to revise their internal operating procedures to accommodate non-Japanese pilots,” said Nobuhito Abe, partner and Asia-Pacific head of aviation and industry at consultancy Kearney. Japanese airlines still have “very 'local' internal procedures,” he added.
It is noted that on average, Japan Airlines pilots get an annual salary of about $172,900, according to a source cited by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, a pilot with 12 years of experience at US Delta Airlines is paid about $453,000 a year, while at American Airlines about $480,000.
Besides, an influx of foreign pilots is likely to upset workers, who fear being treated differently or being passed over for promotions.
In any case, at the moment there is no clear solution in sight, while the number of tourists breaks one monthly record after another. The special committee appointed by Japan's transport ministry is looking at ways to encourage pilots to stay on the job after age 65, as well as attract more women.
Kentaro Fujibayashi, an official at the country's civil aviation agency. , said the government is determined to increase the number of pilots through various means. “There may be some airlines that actively recruit foreign pilots and there are others that do not. But it is a goal we are heading towards and we will do our best to achieve it, he stressed.
Besides, the stakes are high. If the country does not hire enough pilots and in a gradual way, then the – already very ambitious – vision of 60 million tourists by 2030, may become impossible.
With information from Bloomberg
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