In the macro environment, aviation continues to be a high growth industry with passenger numbers expected to increase by over 5% per annum up to 2037, with over 8 billion travellers per annum.

Looking to 2040 in the macro sense, best estimates indicate that over 500,000 new commercial airline pilots will need to be trained to supply the industry with the expected staffing levels.

Aviation stands out as an industry where it is not just business as usual. Events that happen in this space make the ‘front page’.

2020 will certainly be remembered as an ‘annus horribilis’ for the aviation industry. However, the future is full of opportunity - both known and unknown.

Aviation has always had a unique set of attractions and challenges in the context of talent marketing.

Volume recruitment comes with challenges, managing your selection process efficiently, effectively and true to your own employer brand. Watch Aon's webinar on volume recruitment trends.

As with many sectors, the aviation industry is witnessing a shortage of strong talent, forecasted growth and the need to retain skills and knowledge in-house.

"It's true that within the aviation industry everybody just thinks about pilots, cabin crew. But it's not all about the people in the sky", says Mark Duffy from Ryanair.

Howard Grosvenor, Strategic Solutions Director from Aon - "A big trend in aviation talent is about how to attract candidates and how to build a really powerful brand."

Bernard Creed from Dubai Duty Free - A lot of their talent issues are very similar to ones of other large companies in the UAE that are customer-facing.

Andy O'Shea, Chairman of Aircrew Training Policy Group - "Airlines need to understand, that to get the right people in, especially in the cockpit, is that you have to have a selection process."

Andy O'Shea, Chairman at Aircrew Training Policy Group (ATPG) - "It is so important for the industry, every aspect of the industry, now that we come against this enormous wave of expansion."

Alan Whittaker from L3Harris - "There is a massive talent pool out there that we could be missing out on and the challenge is to try and to tap into that pool to sustain the pipeline that we've got."