Over a Million Employed in the US Aviation Industry

The recovery of air travel following the pandemic is fueling a sharp increase in hiring. As of August 2024, the airline industry workforce is the largest it’s been in more than two decades—with 200,000 jobs added by U.S. carriers in June alone—according to new Department of Transportation data. The trade organization Airlines for America (A4A) reports that more than 1 million people now work within the airline industry, and that trend isn’t expected to slow.

The Aviation Industry is Hiring Worldwide

The post-pandemic rebound isn’t just limited to the U.S. As air travel surges, airlines worldwide are hiring thousands of employees across different departments, including Etihad, Emirates, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.

Technology can support airlines

To keep up with labor increases and the operational challenges inherent to staffing changes, airlines are trying to find the right mix of investment in technology and people—and travel leaders are trying to effectively navigate workforce challenges alongside automation.

The 2023 Deloitte Automation and Labor in Travel Survey found that 99 percent of airport managers say they are adopting new technology to overcome constraints in staffing frontline roles, and nearly all airports surveyed say they are addressing labor challenges by adopting new technology, upgrading existing technology, or automating repetitive tasks. Additionally:
 

• 74 percent of airport respondents say they expect technology to boost their bottom line due to an improved traveler experience.
  
  
• Most respondents expect automation to create new opportunities for workers, improve the work environment, and boost the bottom line by improving the guest experience
  
  
• Nearly all airport leaders expect AI to significantly improve task performance across their operations within five years—including guest processing, monitoring process flow and efficiency, staff management, operational resilience, bookings management, personalized recommendations, and customer experience.

Leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and support a growing workforce

Technology is transforming workforce management in the airline industry, enabling carriers to rethink their staffing models. Advanced data analytics can streamline flight crew planning, ensuring optimal staffing levels while minimizing costs. Self-service options also empower passengers, reducing the need for extensive support staff and allowing airlines to focus on enhancing in-flight experiences. These technological advancements not only improve operational efficiency but also support the workforce by automating routine tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more important operations. Ultimately, these innovations lead to a more flexible, responsive, and customer-centric approach to airline staffing and service delivery.

Download: A CTO’s guide to automating the workforce details 

Curious about the specific technology solutions that can streamline workforce management and improve the passenger experience? Check out our latest white paper, A CTO’S Guide to Automating the Details, which outlines how automation can help airlines manage crew lodging, day of operations changes, vendor payments, crew ticketing, and more.