Boeing Predicts Massive Pilot Shortage

May need half a million more by 2032

Boeing Co. predicts the commercial airline industry will need nearly a half-million additional pilots by 2032, a result of the slowdown of new blood entering the field and continuing growth of airlines across the world.

The world's largest commercial plane maker, which is based in Chicago, issued the forecast Thursday at an event marking the launch of 787 flight training at the Boeing Flight Services campus in Miami.

In addition to the expected need for 498,000 pilots, Boeing forecasts the industry will demand 556,000 new airline maintenance technicians. That works out to about 25,000 additional pilots and 28,000 maintenance workers needed annually.