First there was a shortage of pilots, now there are aircraft mechanics: according to Allianz, the shortage of skilled workers in aviation is not only a labor problem, but also a safety concern.
A lack of aircraft mechanics has become a concern for international air traffic. According to Allianz, the shortage of aircraft mechanics feared a few years ago has now become a reality. This could not only extend repair times, write the experts from the subsidiary Allianz Commercial, which specializes in industrial and corporate customers, in a recent report. One “obvious concern” is that the lack of skilled workers could lead to an accident despite the control systems in aviation.
Five-digit number of mechanics missing in North America alone
The alliance is referring, among other things, to estimates that there is a shortage of 12,000 to 18,000 aircraft mechanics in North America alone. In the past two years, the shortage of pilots has been more of an issue because many airlines had also reduced their flying staff during the pandemic. According to the alliance, many airlines have now hired new pilots, but there is now a lack of technicians on the ground. The background to this is the unexpectedly strong revival of air traffic after the end of the corona pandemic, given the weak global economy. The alliance’s economists assume that global passenger numbers could reach a new record this year.
Crashes have become rare
“Accident” does not mean a crash. Last year, not a single passenger plane crashed worldwide. According to insurer data, almost two thirds of aviation claims are “collisions”. But this does not only include collisions and crashes, but also bird strikes and unsuccessful landings beyond the end of the runway.
According to the company, the authors of the analysis evaluated more than 32,000 aviation damage cases from 2019 to 2024, which totaled around 14 billion euros. After collisions and related accidents, which accounted for 63 percent, quality and technical defects came in second place (22 percent).
Repair costs are skyrocketing
In addition to the shortage of mechanics, according to Allianz Commercial, the cost of repairing aircraft has also risen sharply in the past two years, comparable to the development of car repairs. The authors cite the Boeing 787 as an example, whose fuselage and wings are made largely of carbon fiber and other composite materials. According to Allianz Commercial, repairs are about four times as expensive as for aircraft with traditional metal components.
Source: Stern
