Aviation sector on hiring spree but Asian airlines, except for SIA, in no rush to recruit flight crew

MOST of Asia’s tourism-dependent nations are scrambling to ramp up resources to cater to an influx of international visitors, with border controls having been relaxed. However, few Asian airlines have fast-tracked the hiring of flight crew — except for Singapore Airlines (SIA).

In contrast, the Middle Eastern airlines are pulling out all the stops to attract cabin crew to join them; Emirates has even embarked on a 30-city whirlwind global tour to hire 6,000 flight attendants.

Checks by The Business Times on the websites of 12 carriers operating in Asia found that the mainboard-listed SIA group appears to be the only one recruiting pilots and cabin crew. Eva Air of Taiwan is hiring pilots only.