Boeing: 637,000 new pilots needed by 2036

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said he has never heard of a global shortage of pilots but according to Boeing’s latest outlook report, the industry needs more than 600,000 pilots to meet “extraordinary” demands over the next 20 years.

“Is there a shortage of pilots? No. I have never yet come across a worldwide shortage of pilots. We don’t have a shortage of pilots here at Ryanair. We have 4,200 pilots. We fully operated the entire of the summer schedule, June, July, and August, which is our busiest period of the year,” Mr O’Leary said on Monday.

Boeing’s report, the Pilot and Technician Outlook 2017-2036, published this summer indicates there will be a worldwide shortage.