Aviation Maintenance Shortage: 710,000 Technicians Needed by 2044
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- 4 min read
Published on: 20 February 2026
Written by: Shreya Majumder
The global aviation industry will require 710,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians by 2044, according to Boeing’s latest forecast, highlighting one of the most significant workforce challenges facing airlines and MROs over the next two decades.
The global aviation industry is approaching a critical turning point. As air travel continues to expand and fleets grow larger and more technologically advanced, the sector is facing a workforce shortage that could reshape its future.
According to Boeing’s 2025 Pilot and Technician Outlook, airlines and maintenance organisations worldwide will require 710,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians over the next 20 years. When combined with demand for pilots and cabin crew, the industry will need 2.4 million new aviation professionals by 2044.
This is not simply a recruitment challenge. It is a structural workforce transformation. The aviation maintenance shortage has direct implications for operational reliability, safety standards, fleet utilisation, and the industry’s ability to meet rising passenger demand. Yet within this challenge lies one of the most significant career opportunities aviation has seen in decades.
What is Driving the Aviation Maintenance Workforce Gap?
The shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians is the result of multiple structural factors converging at once.
Demographic change is a primary driver. In North America alone, more than a quarter of certified mechanics are over the age of 64, with many approaching retirement. The loss of experienced technicians is occurring faster than the industry can replenish them.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the issue. Early retirements, layoffs, and disruptions to training pipelines resulted in thousands fewer new mechanics entering the profession. The recovery in air travel demand has been swift, but workforce recovery has not kept pace.
Barriers to entry also remain high. Becoming a certified aircraft maintenance technician requires approximately 1,900 hours of training and significant financial investment. These requirements limit how quickly new professionals can enter qualify.
Fleet growth adds further pressure. Boeing forecasts the global commercial aircraft fleet will approach 49,000 aircraft by 2044. Each aircraft requires ongoing inspection, repair, compliance oversight, and system upgrades throughout its lifecycle.
Adding further pressure is competition from other industries. Automotive manufacturing, renewable energy, and advanced technology sectors are actively recruiting individuals with similar technical skills, drawing potential aviation talent into alternative career paths.
The need for maintenance technicians will not be evenly distributed across the world. Boeing’s forecast shows significant regional variation, with some markets experiencing particularly intense demand.
Regional Demand and Market Impact
The demand for maintenance technicians will not be evenly distributed.
Boeing projects that Europe and Eurasia will account for the largest share of technician demand, followed closely by China and North America. At the same time, Asia-Pacific, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa are expected to record the fastest relative growth rates as aviation markets expand.
Airbus’ Global Services Forecast reinforces this outlook, estimating similar long-term technician requirements and projecting the aviation services market will exceed $300 billion by 2044.
Together, these forecasts confirm that the shortage is global, structural and long-term.
Beyond Licensed Engineers: The Full Maintenance Ecosystem
Public discussion often focuses on licensed aircraft engineers, but the maintenance workforce shortage extends far beyond this single role.
Modern aviation maintenance is an ecosystem that depends on multiple specialised functions working in coordination.
Operations depend on:
Quality assurance and compliance specialists
Maintenance planners and production controllers
Avionics and structural engineers
Engineering support and technical services teams
Logistics and supply chain professionals
Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO) specialists
Without this broader ecosystem, even a fully staffed engineering team cannot sustain safe and efficient operations.
A Significant Career Opportunity
For individuals considering careers in aviation, the workforce gap represents an extraordinary opportunity.
Labour demand is rising globally. Career progression timelines are accelerating. Skilled technicians are becoming increasingly central to airline and MRO resilience.
In Europe and many international markets, EASA Part-66 licensing remains a benchmark qualification. Specialised training in maintenance planning, quality systems, CAMO operations, and regulatory compliance is becoming increasingly valuable.
Aircraft maintenance is emerging as one of the most stable and future-oriented technical professions within the transport sector.
Industry Response and Capacity Building
As the workforce challenge intensifies, training providers, consultancies, and recruitment partners will play a strategic role in expanding industry capacity.
Workforce development strategies include:
Long-term skills forecasting
Structured training investment
Regulatory- aligned qualification pathways
Retention and succession planning
Global recruitment strategies
The aviation maintenacne shortage is one of the defining workforce issues of the next two decades. How effectively the industry responds will shape operational resilience, safety standards, and sustainable growth well into the 2040s.
Key Facts
• 710,000 new aircraft maintenance technicians will be required globally by 2044, according to Boeing’s 2025 outlook.
• The global aviation workforce will need to expand by 2.4 million professionals over the next two decades.
• The commercial aircraft fleet is projected to reach nearly 49,000 aircraft by 2044, increasing long-term maintenance demand.
• The maintenance shortage is driven by retirements, training bottlenecks, fleet growth, and competition from other technical industries.
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Author: Shreya Majumder Aviation staffing and consultancy insights LinkedIn
