China Faces Difficulties in Replacing Flight Attendants

The civil aviation market is back to its bustling self since the relaxed of China's pandemic control and prevention policies.

In March, domestic passenger flights surpassed 360,000. This is an increase by 133% over the period 2022. It also surpasses the period prior to the 2019 epidemic. 18,000 passenger flights were flown on international and regional routes, an increase in 471% from the 2022 period.

This background has seen an increase in the number of airline employees being recruited. Previously, this was a slow process due to the outbreak.

Public reports state that since 2022, Hainan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, Spring Airlines and Spring Airlines, Lucky Air, Capital Airlines and Fuzhou Airlines have all announced their recruitment plans.

Most of the available positions are in front-line positions like flight attendants, security staff, and ground support employees. Some airlines offer flight attendants a maximum annual salary up to 330,000 Yuan (48,000 USD). This is to attract qualified candidates.

Reduce the number of flight attendants

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, (CAAC), there was an 11% decrease in flight attendants during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This means that around 11,000 cabin crew members have left their jobs from the 2019 pre-pandemic level (108,955 in 2019).

The significant decrease in income is the main reason cabin crews quit their jobs. A large portion of the cabin crew's income in China comes from their flight hours.
Juneyao Airlines is an example. The basic monthly salary for Juneyao Airlines cabin staff is between 3,000 to 6,000 Yuan (US $436-$871); they can also get approximately 15,000 Yuan (US $21,178) per month for flight time before the epidemic.

Cabin crew working in low seasons can barely survive on a minimum wage due to the drastic reduction in flight hours. Some cabin crew members can't make ends meet and must resign or find another job.

Airlines have always had a high demand for flight attendants. The largest position in an airline is that of a flight attendant, followed closely by ground service personnel, and maintenance personnel.

According to financial reports of three Chinese state-owned airlines, there were over 20,000 cabin crew members in these three companies by 2021. This accounts for 22%-27% percent of their total workforce.

The airlines are focusing on flight attendants to fill the gap in the workforce. This is a result of the rapid recovery of civil aviation.

Hainan Airlines has even launched a special recruitment program for cabin crew who speak a foreign language. Hainan Airlines offers 180 cabin crew positions to those who speak a foreign language. There are 164 available in English, five in French and one in Italian.

Source: simpleflying.com