Taiwan is poised for aviation growth – now it’s your turn to seize the opportunity

It seems like Taiwan, a small 36 000 sq. km. island, is set to become the newest star in the aviation world of the Northeast Asia. With as many as 95% of all people commuting to and from the country by plane, there’s little surprise that 3 major local carriers have already placed orders for over 70 aircraft to be delivered in just a couple of years’ time. With that in mind, aviation industry professionals seeking great employment opportunities oversees should look no further.

Despite its rapid aviation market growth and already highly developed industry, Taiwan is rarely noted among the region’s most promising countries employment-wise. For instance, while the nearby Vietnam is home to 89 million people and 124 aircraft, Taiwan has a population of 23 million and over 210 aircraft. That’s 7 times more people per aircraft! 

However, as industry specialists point out, manpower to fly and maintain the ever-growing fleet is yet to be found, trained and hired. “China Airlines and EVA Air alone have 14 Airbus A350s and 13 Boeing 777s on order. Counting the demand for staff comes down to simple math – for each new aircraft an airline needs to recruit and properly prepare at least 15 to 20 pilots. On top of that, there’s a need to find a considerable number of technicians and engineers who must be well trained and qualified to take care of its airworthiness…” says Skaiste Knyzaite, the CEO of AviationCV.com. 

Meanwhile, after the successful launch of Tigerair Taiwan and V Air, for the first time ever, every major Northeast Asian market now has an LCC. Moreover, the political relationship between Beijing and Taipei has been getting warmer over the past years. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the number of Cross-Strait flights to and from China. The improvement in political climate also allows for the possibility of Taiwan receiving transfer rights in the foreseeable future.

Such rights would position the country as the primary hub for long-haul flights in-and-out of Australia as well as North America. According to the AviationCV.com executive, “understanding the prospects of such expansion, major players in the region are opening up facilities in order to keep up with the growth. Just recently, China Airlines has opened up its first ever maintenance training centre. Moreover, such major companies as APEX Academy, Ansett Aviation Training and others are joining forces in order to train Taiwanese pilots at a higher pace. And there’s a good reason behind their willingness to join efforts.”

According to various experts, among all pilots currently working in Taiwan, the percentage of foreigners may fluctuate from a mere 2% to as many as 30%. As local carriers, including LCCs, continue to accelerate their operations, one should expect more and more foreigners captaining aircraft or taking care of their technical condition in the country. Another crucial factor that will surely contribute to an increase of foreigners working in the industry is the fact that mainland China has been poaching more and more Chinese-speaking Taiwanese pilots. On the bright side, with Taiwan being such an attractive place to fly and live, finding expats willing to transfer to the island should not prove very difficult.

The recent HSBC analysis of viewpoints of over 20 000 professionals working outside their home countries has revealed that they encounter very few issues while settling in Taiwan and more than two thirds are in love with the country’s rich culture. Furthermore, Taiwan ranks the 3rd when it comes to the overall cost of raising children and great healthcare worldwide. It’s basically an all-round country - vibrant and upbeat for those who seek new experiences and safe as well as welcoming for families.

“All in all, it always comes down to different perspectives, but I believe that Taiwan is definitely the Promised Land. While mainland and neighbouring countries are still developing their markets, Taiwan is already ahead of the pack and is set for strong further development,” says S.Knyzaite. 

According to the 12th edition of the World Bank Group’s report, the country is ranked 19th on the ease of doing business worldwide. In comparison, mainland China is ranked only 90th and the neighbouring Philippines - 96th.

“Nevertheless, there are still certain political restrictions and regulative measures to be considered prior to making the move.  Working with a trusted company that knows the region very well can make all the difference between a successful transfer and a bitter experience," concludes Skaiste Knyzaite, the CEO of AviationCV.com.