Aviation News

Airbus says the industry will need more than 2.44 million new pilots, maintenance technicians, and cabin crew over the next 20 years, and Boeing’s numbers line up almost exactly. Those forecasts don’t even count business aviation. Here’s what the long-term hiring gap means for charter operators and flight departments, and why it’s good news for aviation professionals.

Business aviation just had its busiest summer on record, and 81% of operators say their crew headcount is already stretched thin. With the holiday charter rush about ten weeks out and the airlines hiring again, here’s how charter operators and flight departments can staff for peak season, and what pilots and technicians should know before December.

After a quiet spring, major airline pilot hiring jumped in August, and 2026 has already matched all of 2025. With Delta, United, and American pointing to more hiring and retirements into 2027, the window business aviation has enjoyed this year is starting to narrow. Here’s what operators and pilots should do before the airlines’ next big push.

Every year, roughly 22,000 service members with aviation maintenance experience leave the military, yet the industry captures fewer than 1 in 10 of them. As Veterans Day approaches, here’s why military pilots and maintainers may be the best hire a charter operator or flight department can make, what changed with SkillBridge in 2026, and how to bring veterans on board the right way.

Every year, about 3,000 U.S. airline pilots reach age 65 and must leave the Part 121 flight deck. Efforts to raise that limit have stalled, but Part 91 and Part 135 flying doesn’t have the same cap. For charter operators and corporate flight departments, these veteran captains may be the most experienced talent pool in aviation. Here’s what operators and pilots should know.

Right now, business aviation employers have the upper hand in hiring. That won’t last. With nearly three-quarters of future hiring expected to replace experienced people who leave, the operators who win the next few years will be the ones who keep their best pilots and technicians in the seat. Here’s what’s working.

More than 17,000 business aviation professionals will be in Las Vegas October 20–22 for NBAA-BACE, and this year’s expanded Career Zone puts hiring front and center. Here’s a practical game plan for charter operators, flight departments, and the pilots, technicians, and schedulers who want to make the trip count.

The FAA issued a record number of new mechanic certificates last year, and it still isn’t enough. With 44% of certificated mechanics over age 60 and tens of thousands of retirements ahead, the A&P is now the hardest hire in business aviation. Here’s what the new data means for charter operators, flight departments, and the technicians they’re competing to hire.

Major airline pilot hiring is running at a fraction of its 2022 pace, yet charter and fractional flying keeps growing and the technician shortage hasn’t eased. Here’s what the latest hiring data means for charter operators, corporate flight departments, and the pilots and mechanics weighing their next move.