SriLankan Airlines is aiming to recruit 80 new pilots to replace lost headcount, with 30 hires set for this year and 50 more by mid-2025.
CEO Richard Nuttal said failure to fill the manpower gap would result in cancelled flights.
The state-owned flag carrier has lost about 50 to 60 pilots within the past 10 to 12 months.
Currently, there are 143 captains, including three females; 83 first officers; 26 junior first officers; and 14 cadet pilots undergoing training within the organisation.
Nuttal told the media that the airline has obtained government approval to recruit foreign pilots if required, and pointed to “a pool of skilled pilots available in South-east Asia and Northern Europe”.
When asked if hiring conditions have been improved for pilots, Nuttal told TTG Asia that terms have indeed been enhanced for both future hires and existing ones.
