Bankruptcy forces pilots to China
February 28, 2012, 10:56 am
American Airlines recently filed for bankruptcy, leaving many pilots feeling nervous about the stability of their careers. Chinese airlines, in response, are attracting these uncertain pilots to join their ranks, as the carriers are in need of experienced pilots.
In an interview with the Miami Herald, Ken Krizman said he was very confident in his career path when he signed on as an American Airlines pilot in the late 1990s. Krizman even stopped recording his flight hours, expecting to never have to apply for another job again.
Krizman, however, recently joined a group of veteran pilots considering a new career as a Chinese airline pilot. About 12 Chinese carriers were looking to fill hundreds of open pilot jobs during a two-day job fair at a Doral aviation center. The carriers are promising U.S. veteran pilots with more money than they are receiving from U.S. airlines, as they try to advance and expand their operations all over the world, the source reported.
At the job fair, more than 100 middle-aged U.S. pilots met with Chinese airline executives to discuss the rapidly expanding routes and privileged lives of American pilots in China. The executives talked about more days off compared with U.S. carriers, as well as higher pay and exciting trips. The job fair plans to make its way across the country, with its next stop in Las Vegas, the source reported.
According to Bloomberg, some 550 pilots attended the job fair with Krizman. The pilots were interested in hearing the Chinese executives' pitches, as the U.S. has reported slowed growth in the aviation sector, forcing many pilots to retire later than planned to pay for retirement. In China, the economy is growing at a rapid rate, and a fleet is expected to grow 11 percent a year through 2015. Therefore, many Chinese carriers hope to recruit U.S. veteran pilots to lead the expansions.
In an interview with the source, Shein Wei, head of pilot recruitment for Spring Airlines, said every carrier in China is facing a pilot shortage due to the continued growth. Foreign pilots are a strong option because they do not require full training and many are looking to enter new markets with more growth. Spring Airlines pays foreign pilots 30 percent more than domestic staff to make the carrier more appealing. In addition, Air China, the largest Chinese carrier, is offering $198,000 a year plus bonuses for Airbus A330 pilots.
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