As tourists flock to Japan, the country’s airlines are facing a severe shortage of pilots. And finding them won’t be easy.
Japan currently has about 7,100 pilots, and the government predicts another 1,000 will be needed by 2030 to meet a target of attracting some 60 million tourists that same year. In a recognition that could mean looking outside the country for talent, measures being considered by a panel set up by the transport ministry earlier this year include making it quicker and cheaper to convert foreign pilot licenses to Japanese ones.
But there are several reasons why it is difficult to hire pilots from abroad. There is resistance from local labor unions, and airlines in Japan generally pay less than airlines elsewhere. The shortage is exacerbated by the fact that many airline captains, currently in their 50s, are set to retire around 2030, the ministry said.
