The recent double-digit growth of commercial air travel, a global shortage of aircraft, and a backlog of deferred maintenance are causing significant personnel shortages at airline and related companies, particularly when it comes to maintenance, repair, and overhaul. And these labor shortages are expected to persist and even intensify, with one-fifth of aviation maintenance technician jobs projected to go unfilled by 2033. However, partner Christian Langer and coauthors find that generative AI could relieve some of that pressure by helping both maintenance and back-office employees do their jobs more efficiently, and by boosting the quality, consistency, and accuracy of maintenance work.
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Three area squares represent the projected number of aviation maintenance technicians needed in 2023, 2028, and 2033, relative to each other. The chart also shows the projected deficit that will need to be addressed. In 2023, the industry needed ~251,000 technicians, with a shortfall of <1,000. By 2028, the industry will need ~310,000 technicians, with a projected shortfall of ~40,000. By 2033, the industry will need ~360,000 technicians, with a projected shortfall of ~70,000.
Source: CAE Aviation Talent Forecast 2023; Federal Aviation Administration Civil Airman Statistics; McKinsey analysis.
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To read the article, see “The generative AI opportunity in airline maintenance,” April 8, 2024.