SEOUL: The recruitment of pilots by South Korean airlines increased by 8 percent in the first eight months of the year, reflecting a resurgence in travel demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data released on Sunday, the country’s 11 air carriers hired 537 new pilots from January to August, compared to 498 during the same period last year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the increase contrasts significantly with the annual average of 135 pilots hired between 2020 and 2022, a period marked by pandemic-related travel restrictions. Korean Air, the largest of the carriers, led the hiring surge by recruiting 119 new pilots. T’way Air Co., a low-cost carrier, followed closely with 114 new hires, reflecting its expansion as an alternative carrier on routes to European cities including Rome, Barcelona, Frankfurt, and Paris. This expansion comes in the wake of Korean Air’s proposed merger with Asiana Airlines Inc.
Other airlines also contributed to the rise in recruitment. Eastar Jet Co., another low-cos
t carrier, hired 79 pilots, while Jin Air Co. and Air Busan Co. added 68 and 39 pilots, respectively. Notably, Asiana Airlines has not recruited new pilots since the previous year, highlighting its current operational focus.
In addition to pilots, South Korean airlines also increased the hiring of flight attendants, with 1,216 new recruits over the same period. This figure is nearly equal to the total number of flight attendants hired throughout all of 2023, indicating a robust recovery in the aviation sector’s workforce.