[AIANZ] says New Zealand’s lucrative international pilot training is struggling to recover since the pandemic, losing nearly two-thirds of its value due to Covid.
Research commissioned by the Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand (AIANZ) showed at its peak in 2019 the industry was contributing $86 million in gross domestic product (GDP), with 652 international students enrolled and growing strongly.
But Covid-19 and the exit of a major international pilot training school resulted in this plummeting between 2020 and 2021 to a low of just 173 students in 2022.
The latest figures for 2023 remain low with 186 students and a contribution to GDP of $30.7m, according to the study by independent research group Scarlatti.
Association chief executive Simon Wallace said like many other parts of New Zealand’s international education sector, pilot training was still recovering.
“At its pre-Covid peak, this sector was showing high demand from international students looking for high quality pilot training and appeared to be growing. Without the sudden shocks imposed by Covid-19, the value today may have been even larger.”
He said visa processing times were deterring some potential recruits.
Read the full article on NZ Premium hereNZ Herald Premium // Grant Bradley // NZ Herald Deputy Editor 29 October 2024
See also: Media Release 29 October 2024