The
paradox of the sector is that it serves one of the world’s fastest growing
economies and posts double-digit traffic growth, yet estimates say the
carriers, put together, have lost $2.5 billion in the 12 months ending March
2012.
The Indian aviation
industry entered 2012 facing its most critical challenge since the industry
reforms of 2004. The paradox of the sector is that it serves one of the world’s
fastest growing economies and posts double-digit traffic growth, yet estimates
say the carriers, put together, have lost $2.5 billion in the 12 months ending
March 2012.
Not surprisingly,
the employment opportunities too are affected. Until 2010, a consistent yearly
intake of around 300-400 trainee cabin crew and ground staff per domestic
carrier was visible. This number has come down by at least 50 to 60 per cent in
the wake of slumping business. The pilots are particularly unlucky; with more
than enough trained staff in the market, supply is always more than demand.
But all is not lost
for the rest of the crew. Barring Kingfisher and Air India, recruitment of
ground staff and cabin crew by the other airlines is going on, given the high
attrition rates. Plus, foreign airlines perceive India as a fertile poaching
space.
“Airlines like
Indigo and Spicejet, which are expanding fast, put out ads everyday for trained
cabin crew as well as freshers who meet the basic requirements of being +2
pass, presentable and having good communication skills,” says a consultant for
a domestic airline. The crew training institutes are thus gung-ho. The Aptech
Aviation and Hospitality Academy, Mumbai, says it inducted about 4,000 students
last year, of which 3,500 have been placed as cabin crew and ground staff with
various aviation companies. Frankfinn Airhostess Academy has entered the Limca
Book of Records for best cabin placements with 115 people placed over 16 days.
It created the record four times in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010.
Ravi Dighe, head,
Aptech Aviation and Chief Student Development, says, “Yes, AI and Kingfisher
are facing problems. But that does not mean the entire sector is going down the
drain. Passenger traffic is growing at 15 to 16 per cent and cargo is moving in
excess of 15 to 17 per cent annually. So there is no cut in requirement as far
as services are concerned. In fact, India is considered the largest manpower
provider to global airports with the number in excess of 2.5 lakh.”
‘Global’ is the key
word. At least 8-10 per cent of Gulf crews are Indian. Every Lufthansa flight
entering the sector has two Indian cabin staffers, and its Brussels airport
office employs staff speaking Indian languages. So is the case with British
Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qatar Airways. Qatar, in fact, has been conducting
walk-in interviews in metros and small towns in India from where it plans to
start flights.
“Cabin crew
recruitment is open throughout the year for reasons such as business expansion
as well as natural attrition which can reach up to 20 per cent per year,” says
Amal Mohamed AlGharibi, communication specialist at Gulf Air. “Indian cabin
staff are extremely competent. They are multi-lingual, service- and
customer-oriented, highly educated and punctual. Thus Indians are among the top
five nationalities on our team.” While the majority of the recruits sign on as
cabin crew, others join the call centres, ground services, sales and marketing
and catering divisions.
Emirates, which is
adding 35 new aircraft this year, is also recruiting Indians in large numbers.
“We recruit talent from India not just for India operations but also for our
global network of 125 destinations across 74 countries, including our
headquarters in Dubai. Indian candidates have the inherent advantage of
speaking English. We recruited 4,000 cabin crew and ground staff last year,”
says an Emirates spokesperson, adding the first good news for pilots: “We plan
to hire over 300 pilots this financial year.”
The demand for
staff is coming from helicopter operators too. Says Dighe: “The helicopter wing
has huge potential and will grow at a very fast pace in the next three years.
There is requirement at offshore units such as ONGC, industrial units for
emergencies, and for tourism, particularly at religious places. Forty
helicopters fly each day from Katra to Vaishno Devi between 8 am and 5 pm. This
is bound to increase. There will also be huge demand for professionals who can
manage the customer interface. Also, since the ground staff is susceptible to
attrition, demand never fades.”
http://newindianexpress.com/business/article567146.ece?service=print
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