Five places to be a pilot: Kunming

As the demand for new pilots is expected to grow and reach its maximum in the next 20 years, Asia remains the region with the greatest need for additional crew. With limited local supply Chinese airlines have naturally become one of the most generous employers for pilots in the market. However, China is characteristic of a variety of traditions and cultural peculiarities which greatly differ from region to region. The focus of today’s topic is Kunming which appears to be on the list of the most desirable and popular places to live in the southwest China. AviationCV.com invites you to take a closer look into what really makes the ‘Happiest city in China’ so special.

The shrinking supply of experienced pilots keeps the salaries for foreign specialists on average 30% higher than the ones paid for Chinese pilots. The trend is monitored industry-wide and while competing for new employees local carriers are offering them relatively similar remuneration packages. Under such circumstances it is only natural that foreign specialists tend to consider a variety of secondary factors before choosing the next base in their career.

Also known as ‘the city of eternal spring’, Kunming does its best to live up to the title by offering 10 lasting months of spring to its citizens. This is one of the main highlights of living in Kunming, as people get to experience the warm weather conditions with the average temperatures ranging around 23 degrees almost all year long.

’One of the main reasons why pilots are increasingly opting for Kunming as their next place to live is a much slower pace of life as compared to other Chinese cities. Considering the already tense working conditions and occupational stress, pilots will find Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, to be a relaxing place to live with breathtaking landscapes. Unlike such metropolitan cities as Shanghai or Beijing, Kunming is considerably less polluted and crowded meaning that the pilots choosing to reside in the city are subject to less health-threatening conditions and rarely have to deal with highly stressful rush hours. As the tendency of moving from big cities to more tranquil suburbs has been rapidly growing in the past few years, Kunming seems to embrace a much more eco-friendly environment‘, commented Skaiste Knyzaite, the CEO of AviationCV.com.

Apart from being environmentally friendly, Kunming is one of the cheapest major cities in China when it comes to food and transportation costs. For instance, Kunming is famous for its variety of foods with the majority of dishes costing as little as USD 2-3. Moreover, anyone who is not entirely pleased with the local diet won‘t feel that far away from home due to numerous Western restaurants with offers per single meal ranging from USD 3 to USD 8.

Meanwhile, the city is not deprived from shopping and luxury industry. There are several major upscale shopping centers selling such global fashion brands as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Versace, and Hermes. Moreover, there are also several large supermarkets and restaurants which offer exclusively imported foods and meals meaning that both pilots and their families will certainly find a way to spend their leisure time.

‘Being the cultural centre of Yunnan and combining modern attitude with deep historical roots, Kunming seems to be a perfect base for those who are willing to not only make a further step in their pilot career, but also to explore China, its culture and traditions. Yet, unlike many other multimillion Chinese cities, Kunming offers less stressful and more comfortable living conditions which is certainly a major factor for anyone moving to China,’ concluded Skaiste Knyzaite.