Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

The Thai aviation sector is projected to experience a pilot shortage in the next 2-3 years due to fleet expansions amid licensing issues preventing over half of Thai pilots from returning to work. Woranate Laprabang, CEO of Vietjet Thailand, stated that only 20-30% of pilots have been recalled by airlines, highlighting the current shortage. Vietjet Thailand, operating 18 aircraft with plans to expand, requires additional pilots to meet operational demands.

 

The ongoing pilot shortage is linked to licensing renewals, which require regular flight operations and annual medical check-ups. Woranate explained that with fleet expansions, including the planned acquisition of nine new planes and retirement of four, Vietjet Thailand intends to hire 50 more pilots this year. This is part of a broader aim to achieve a 50-strong aircraft fleet with 500 pilots by 2028, necessitating 320 new hires, of which one-third will be student pilots.

 

Industry-wide, Thai airlines are expected to train their own pilots to sustain growth. Vietjet Thailand is implementing a pay-to-fly scheme—a practice common in Europe—where pilots pay training fees in exchange for employment. Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, President of the Thai Pilots Association, noted two main groups of unemployed pilots: those with commercial licenses but no commercial experience and those previously laid off due to the pandemic.

 

To return to the workforce, these pilots require retraining, which involves significant costs. If airlines refuse to subsidize these expenses, it remains uncertain whether pilots will bear them. Relocation may occur if new planes align with another airline's model, as pilots trained on specific aircraft require less retraining. However, pay-to-fly schemes, which can cost up to 6 million baht, are criticized for potentially jeopardizing safety standards if unchecked.

 

Looking forward, the industry must address these challenges to maintain safety and meet growing capacity needs. Regulatory oversight of recruitment practices and financial aid for pilot retraining could be key to resolving the shortage.

 

Key Takeaways

• Thai airlines face a potential pilot shortage in 2-3 years due to licensing issues.
• Vietjet Thailand plans significant fleet and pilot expansions, raising demand.
• Pay-to-fly training schemes create concerns over cost and safety standards.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-09-23

 

 

Yet they are outraged over hiring qualified non-Thais

I guess that means there will be no space program either.

 

Probably on hold for awhile. 

Air India turns out some fine aviators, just don't let them near the engine kill switch. 

As a now retired Cabinet Maker who's original career was to fly 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Industry-wide, Thai airlines are expected to train their own pilots to sustain growth. Vietjet Thailand is implementing a pay-to-fly scheme—a practice common in Europe—where pilots pay training fees in exchange for employment. Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, President of the Thai Pilots Association, noted two main groups of unemployed pilots: those with commercial licenses but no commercial experience and those previously laid off due to the pandemic.

As a retired Cabinet maker  whose original career  to fly, was not to be,  the pay-to-fly scheme has been around since the beginning and in every country. I spent total of 50,000 CAD over 10 years back in the 80ties hate to think what that would be in todays dollars, was licensed commercial multi IFR and floatplane, but with minimum flight time to match,  Insurance companies refused employment. Of course back in the 80ties there was no shortage of pilots like there is now, so get used to student pilots in the right seat.  

There are many car drivers in Thailand who could become airline pilots with some training, well at least they would like to think so. Many are lower flyers when driving so the extra altitude shouldn't be a problem for them.

Employment laws should be changed to allow foreign carriers operating subsidiaries in Thailand to bring in more of their own pilots. AirAsia, VietJet and Lion Are are the main operators domestically anyway so they're competing among themselves not with native operators. Thai Air and Nok Air have proven that they can't successfully operate low cost short haul flights, despite all the advantages they receive, while Bangkok Airways only survives because of its Koh Samui cash cow monopoly. 

14 hours ago, Peabody said:

Yet they are outraged over hiring qualified non-Thais

its more to do with there height, they are not tall enough !!

There's a very simple solution to this, you just hire the most highly skilled pilots you can find from around the world, and you stop with the inane exclusivity in regard to specific professions. If that kind of nationalism works then okay, but when it's broken fix it. 

 A Thai friend of mine just resigned from Thai Airways where he flew the 777 internationally for more than 20 years.  He is now flying for one of the major middle east Airlines.  

What is also on terrible shortage within Thai Airways is some basic COMMON SENSE.  

As Thai people do not know the existence of a middle name - as in the Caucasian world, they just omitted including my middle name. I am not keen using it but it is there gifted by my parents. 

So, whenever they crosscheck my passport (showing the middle name) with the booking in their computer (which by default and ROP card has no middle name on record) the ranigaxoo starts, each and every time. 

Thai people no hab middn name - yes - we all are aware of this yet i.e. the immigration allows for this non-Thai circumstance while the national carrier prefers Somtam and Kanom Chin on the inflight food trays. 

Give them a miss, use other airlines which less problems like shortage of staff (which would not be the case if people would get hired by qualification and not by connection) or airlines with more common sense 😉 

5 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

Employment laws should be changed to allow foreign carriers operating subsidiaries in Thailand to bring in more of their own pilots. AirAsia, VietJet and Lion Are are the main operators domestically anyway so they're competing among themselves not with native operators. Thai Air and Nok Air have proven that they can't successfully operate low cost short haul flights, despite all the advantages they receive, while Bangkok Airways only survives because of its Koh Samui cash cow monopoly. 

 Thanks, but maybe not for long:-

 

Industry-wide, Thai airlines are expected to train their own pilots to sustain growth. ( Translation .. not going to happen )

Vietjet Thailand is implementing a pay-to-fly scheme—where pilots pay training fees in exchange for employment.

        ( easier to become a BIB )   and you still get to where parachute medals 

Teerawat Angkasakulkiat, President of the Thai Pilots Association, noted two main groups of unemployed pilots: those with commercial licenses but no commercial experience .

 

To return to the workforce, these pilots require retraining, which involves significant costs. If airlines refuse to subsidize these expenses, it remains uncertain whether pilots will bear them.   ( redundant ! )   ( Translation .. not going to happen )

However, pay-to-fly schemes, which can cost up to 6 million baht, are criticized for potentially jeopardizing safety standards if unchecked.

Vietjet Thailand intends to hire 50 more pilots this year. This is part of a broader aim to achieve a 50-strong aircraft fleet with 500 pilots by 2028, necessitating 320 new hires, of which one-third will be student pilots.

 

So.    the question remains if using this airline ....     

On 9/23/2025 at 4:43 PM, snoop1130 said:

The Thai aviation sector is projected to experience a pilot shortage in the next 2-3 years due to fleet expansions amid licensing issues preventing over half of Thai pilots from returning to work. Woranate Laprabang, CEO of Vietjet Thailand, stated that only 20-30% of pilots have been recalled by airlines, highlighting the current shortage. Vietjet Thailand, operating 18 aircraft with plans to expand, requires additional pilots to meet operational demands.

Usual Thai bureaucracy

On 9/23/2025 at 2:06 PM, Peabody said:

Yet they are outraged over hiring qualified non-Thais

 

Relatives of Anutin??