The Pilot Crisis

Regional Express, Australia’s second largest regional airline, put out the most extraordinary press release on October 9. “REX WARNS OF LOOMING CATASTROPHIC SHORTAGE OF PILOTS IN AUSTRALIA”, the release is titled.

In the release Rex concedes that a shortage of qualified pilots is causing it to cancel flights, and details how over 20 per cent of its pilots have been “poached” by Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Blue in just the last three months alone.