Switzerland will employ 80 new pilots next year. The airline announced it. These are pilots who have completed their First Officer training at Opfikon ZH and the European Flight Academy in Grenchen SO. The latter is operated by Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland (LAT), a 100% subsidiary of Munich-based Lufthansa Aviation Training.
In addition, Swiss will recruit new female pilots for the LAT next year. You should know: Almost all Swiss pilots have completed their advanced training in the LAT as well as their basic training. In this way, Swiss provides its own pool of pilots and can already maintain the company culture at the school. Two years of training costs 105,000 francs and is financially supported by Switzerland.
Thick line across the bill
The center in Opfikon reopened in December 2019 and is considered the most modern training venue in the entire Lufthansa Group. But Corona has put a major hurdle in their training plans: demand for pilot jobs has been low lately.
This also has to do with the fact that Swiss hasn’t hired more pilots since the start of the corona pandemic. And also froze new education. But now that is changing.
No pilot sub stock
Does the hiring of 80 pilots have anything to do with the expected increase in capacity next year, ie flights offered? Only partially: “We haven’t had a shortage of pilots in the last two years,” says Karin Montani, Swiss media director.
No pilots were laid off during the pandemic. However, business has declined significantly. “In normal times, we need 60 to 80 new pilots a year just because of growth and age-related departures,” Montani continues.
So at the end of the year, there will be no net 80 more pilots in Switzerland. The hidden reason is that some older pilots are more likely to be replaced by younger – i.e. cheaper – pilots.
Also, after the conclusion of the GAV, which will come into effect on January 1, 2023, the piloting business has become attractive again. It stipulates that Switzerland can return to retired Swiss and Edelweiss captains as self-employed in case of high demand.