T
hough the aviation industry was hit tremendously hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, North America has so far recovered impressively well compared to many other regions. After a resilient 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects US passenger numbers this year to reach 94 percent of 2019 levels, with a full recovery forecast for 2023. Brighter skies undoubtedly lie ahead, but for now, clouds of uncertainty continue to circle when it comes to crew availability. The shortage of pilots in the US, exacerbated by COVID-19, has led to 10 | North America Outlook issue 09
PILOTING t h e Re cove r y
As aviation bounces back from COVID-19, there remains a looming pilot crisis. We speak to Espen Høiby, CEO of AAP Aviation, about crew management in a post-pandemic world Writer: Jack Salter
airlines cutting schedules and having to boost pay and bonuses to staff their operations. Faced with this challenge, we find out how AAP Aviation (AAP) is taking full responsibility for the entire crew management process, after speaking with CEO, Espen Høiby.
North America Outlook (NA): What is your take on the industry across North America, as it seeks to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? Espen Høiby, CEO (EH): The US domestic market is the world’s largest
