Many people have asked me whether Philippine Airlines/PALexpress, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines, and Royal Air will hire more flight attendants in 2023. I predict local airlines will require more flight attendants in 2023 and beyond.
Indeed, I believe that hiring will be higher in 2023 than in 2022, as airlines are expected to outperform pre-pandemic travel demand by 2023 due to their rapid expansion and recovery. Observing recent developments and seeing data on how the industry has been performing recently, I believe the opportunity will be in the local airline industry.
Other countries are set to open their borders further
Japan recently announced that it would reopen its borders to tourism, allowing visitors to enter the country without a visa. The biggest reopening, however, will be in China. Their borders are closed, but once they reopen, expect a surge in air traffic. Before the pandemic, China was the world’s second-largest aviation market.
More countries will follow suit, resulting in more flights once again. Local airlines will undoubtedly capitalize on these markets by increasing capacity to these destinations from various hubs throughout the Philippines. As a result, airlines would have to hire more flight attendants.
Recovery and surpassing pre-pandemic capacity
Airlines’ current goal is not just to return to pre-pandemic capacity but to exceed it. Cebu Pacific has now exceeded its pre-pandemic domestic capacity. AirAsia Philippines has also been expanding its domestic network, including reopening its Cebu hub.
Despite the continuous recovery of air travel demand, local airlines have been hiring and rehiring flight attendants; however, we have not yet surpassed the total pre-pandemic capacity. What more in 2023, when the focus will already be on expanding capacity beyond pre-pandemic levels?
Delivery of bigger and more efficient aircraft
More outstanding aircraft orders, particularly the Airbus A321neo, are expected to be delivered to airlines. Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are both expecting more. On the other hand, Airbus plans to continue delivering A321neos to the AirAsia Aviation Group. AirAsia Philippines will almost certainly transition to these brand new and larger aircraft. Their current Airbus A320ceo can seat 180 people. The A321neo will have a capacity of 236 passengers. This will undoubtedly increase significantly, with more cabin crew required as more airlines transition to larger aircraft such as the A321neo.
Reopening of more hubs outside of Metro Manila
Let us be honest: the current NAIA Airport in Manila is extremely congested. The New Manila International Airport in Bulacan and the Sangley Point International Airport in Cavite will not open for several years. For the time being, the best solution would be to open more hubs throughout the country, including but not limited to Cebu, Clark, and Davao. By establishing more hubs outside Metro Manila, Visayas, Northern Luzon, and Mindanao, passengers will have more direct flights to domestic and international destinations. Of course, without the need for a stopover in Manila.
The establishment of these hubs outside of NAIA will necessitate crew basing in those areas, necessitating the need for additional flight crew, including flight attendants.
So, if you’re worried about not being able to fulfill your flight attendant dreams this year, don’t be. There will be many opportunities in the coming years, and trust me, there will be many opportunities in the local airline industry.
They are currently in the recovery phase after bearing the brunt of the pandemic. This year is a critical year for our local airline industry as it recovers. This is why I encourage all current crew members of our local airlines to stay with them first, especially if you have recently been hired or rehired. They require immediate support, and hopefully, things will improve in the coming months.
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
