Because of its unique nature, the aviation industry has suffered the most from the halt to globalisation due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, it is forecasted to be the first and the fastest to revive after the crisis because of its essentiality to economies worldwide. Therefore, once the pandemic is over, the aviation industry needs to be well-prepared, experts said.
Currently, the Vietnamese aviation field seriously heavily on “imported” talent both for professional and management positions, which is deemed costly and wasteful for a country with a substantial working population like Vietnam.
Ms Ho Ngoc Yen Phuong, Vice President of Vietjet commented: “For many decades prior to 2011 when Vietjet was established as the first private airline in Vietnam, aviation was a state-managed industry and its human resources were also limited, with most of them having had previous experience or knowledge in the industry before being recruited. Vietjet’s establishment and more open policies have created strong development in the industry and a burst in talent demands.”
“The aviation labour market has become bigger but not enough to afford its potential in terms of both inputs and outputs, especially when Vietnamese aviation is still growing as fast as it is today. If pilots, cabin crews, aviation engineers and managers, etc. can get professional training in universities or aviation academies, that will not only create more job opportunities for young people but also support the development of the industry,” Ms Phuong said.