News / Looming pilot shortage stalks air cargo operators as more narrowbodies are converted into freighters

© Monika Wisniewska

Aircraft conversion outfits are going full tilt turning narrowbody aircraft into freighters to meet rampant demand for capacity to carry the rapid growth of e-commerce shipments, but a shortage of flight crews threatens to hamper the expansion of narrowbody fleets and regional freighters.

A dearth of pilots is hitting regional operators particularly hard.

In the US this shortage was highlighted in late February when Republic Airways filed for bankruptcy protection, blaming a lack of flight crews that had forced it to ground ...