Desperate China airlines dangling lucrative pay at expat pilots

Sydney

CHINESE airlines need to hire almost 100 pilots a week for the next 20 years to meet skyrocketing travel demand. Facing a shortage of candidates at home, carriers are dangling lucrative pay packages at foreigners with cockpit experience.

Giacomo Palombo, a former United Airlines pilot, said that he's being bombarded every week with offers to fly Airbus A320s in China. Regional carrier Qingdao Airlines promises as much as US$318,000 a year. Sichuan Airlines, which flies to Canada and Australia, is pitching US$302,000. Both airlines say they'll also cover his income tax bill in China.