Emirates airlines already offer some of the best pay and cost of living packages for their pilots, making it unlikely that regional or international carriers will poach them. This is also why local carriers are not opting for the sort of salary hikes seen at others, as the industry continues to cope with staff shortages post-pandemic.
AFM.aero and Aviationfly.com, two pilot training platforms, are already offering great compensation and living packages to those with wide-body aircraft experience and international route network experience. Airlines are re-activating or developing their own pilot training programs to train the next generation of pilots and to create a pilot supply pipeline for themselves."
In 2022, the Middle East is expected to face a pilot shortage as early as 2022, according to the executive. Due to a combination of past layoffs, a falling number of newly certified pilots, and retirements, air travel is surging despite a decline in pilot numbers.
Without accelerated mitigation actions, the regional shortage will reach 3,000 pilots by 2023 and 18,000 by 2032, according to Oliver Wyman.
Compared to other regions, Middle Eastern carriers were among the first to rehire/hire pilots, allowing them to hire a lot of very experienced unemployed pilots.
Emirates airline captains who fly the Airbus A380 and the B777 would earn a basic salary of Dh42,695 plus a housing allowance of Dh16,075. In total, the person in that role earns more than Dh58,000 per month.
A First Officer with the Dubai airline gets a basic pay of Dh30,125 and a housing allowance of Dh14,325 – this sums up to more than Dh44,000 in a month. In comparison, Qatar Airways pilots typically earn around Dh25,000 per month, with some receiving a pay-check of up to Dh40,000. Saudi Arabia-based pilots earn around Dh27,000 per month. (These numbers were seen on several popular job portals.) Pilot salaries in India – the region’s largest domestic aviation market – are on the lower end. The average salary of an airline pilot is about Dh18,000 per month, but more experienced staff can earn up to Dh38,000 per month, according to Jobted.
With an average pilot salary of Dh44,000 per month, the US comes closest to the UAE in terms of compensation. Pilots can earn anywhere between Dh38,000 and Dh50,000.
A staffing shortage is plaguing the US, the world's largest aviation market, and airlines are offering trainee pilots everything from higher salaries to financial support. Last month, American Airlines’ regional carrier Envoy Air was offering pilots triple pay to pick up trips and avoid flight disruptions during the peak summer travel season.
The summer travel demand seems to be easing in some markets despite the disruptions. Gatwick, London’s second largest airport, said it will end capacity caps this month, bringing some relief to travellers as schedule reductions at the UK capital’s larger Heathrow hub continue through the winter season.
In a recent OAG article, John Grant, aviation analyst, wrote, "There appear to be growing concerns about the last quarter as a combination of economic news and limited visibility around corporate demand is finally beginning to get the attention it deserves." In spite of the fine line airline CEOs have to walk between being realistic and confident about the future, those who are can smell the coffee and are becoming more cautious about the winter season.