Global Air Traffic Controller Shortage Triggers International Poaching War as 71,000 Vacancies Loom

POLICY WIRE — Global — — A mounting worldwide deficit of skilled air traffic controllers is prompting nations to recruit experienced staff across borders, creating staffing gaps that threaten flight safety and travel schedules.

Aviation officials report that countries ranging from Australia and Canada to South Africa are actively competing for talent, with some seeking foreign workers even as their own personnel are lured away by other markets. A 2025 projection from the training firm CAE indicates the global industry will require 71,000 new controllers controllers by the year 2034.

This intense competition underscores an industry-wide struggle to replace an aging workforce and train new talent fast enough to keep pace with demand. While moving veteran staff between nations provides temporary relief, experts note it does not solve the fundamental global shortage, as the training process typically spans several years.

The United States, Australia, and Canada are among the nations where the lack of controllers has already resulted in flight disruptions. According to interviews conducted with staff and union representatives, many are departing their roles in search of higher wages, better working conditions, or the chance to continue working past retirement age in other countries.

Sources familiar with the situation noted that some controllers currently with Airservices Australia are moving to Qatar, a nation that recently advertised job openings. Scott Nugent, president of the union Civil Air Australia, stated the organization is aware of dozens of controllers in various locations, including Sydney, who have either resigned for overseas-based roles or are currently considering the move.

One source indicated that the majority of those leaving are seeking better policies regarding fatigue, leave time, overtime pay, and general staffing levels. Airservices Australia maintained that its national attrition rate for the sector remains within expected parameters, while Qatar’s civil aviation authority did not respond to inquiries for comment.

Canada, which typically requires controllers to be citizens or permanent residents, has also looked toward international talent. NAV CANADA, the nation’s air navigation provider, confirmed it utilized an external firm for a “limited, targeted measure” to find eight foreign controllers willing to relocate to Canada.

South Africa is attempting to avoid exporting its staffing issues to other regions. Its Air Traffic and Navigation Services agency lost 28 controllers in the eight-month window between 2024 and last year, and now limits the number of staff it recruits from any single country. Josia Manyakoana, the agency’s chief operating officer, stated they do not want to impose that burden on any specific nation.

New Zealand’s regulatory agency expressed similar views, suggesting providers should address shortages collectively rather than shifting the problem from one entity to another. The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), a global trade group for providers, is currently exploring models to share the costs of training between employers. A CANSO spokesperson noted that the country that trains a controller usually bears the full expense, even if that individual later moves on, adding that several members are concerned about losing the talent they funded.

Nevertheless, some regions are finding new ways to expand the available pool. Indonesia, currently holding a surplus of controllers, agreed to deploy five workers to Australia starting next year through 2030. Indonesian operations director Setio Anggoro stated that Australia requires more personnel while they have an excess and are ready to export expertise.

Ultimately, aviation experts maintain that recruitment alone is not the cure; nations must increase training while improving employee retention. Nick von Schoenberg, president of the Canadian Air Traffic Association, noted that while his union generally does not favor foreign hiring as a fix for long-term issues, they would not object to the recruitment efforts of NAV CANADA. He remarked that given the severity of the current situation, they would not stand in the way of such plans.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)