Airlines target training institutes to fill requirement

Mumbai: College campuses are turning into aircraft parking lots. Airliners are flying to cabin crew training institutes to handpick talent urgently needed to fort the skies. On April 4, Air Deccan, the Banglore-based low fare air service provider signed exclusive cabin crew recruitment partnership with Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training.
At the current pace of growth, with the collective industry fleet strength expected to reach 900 from 350 by 2009, the Indian aviation industry would require 7500-8000 cabin crew per year. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also confirms that by 2010 the travel within Asia will become the largest with 678 million passengers compared to 552 million in the US domestic market.
Kingfisher airways is also seeking landing space in colleges campuses, job fairs, hotel and most importantly call centres to garner fuel for the service industry.
The airline will also open a training institute to nurture talent for all sector of the aviation industry on April 5.
Spicejet has been visiting smaller towns like Raipur, Bhilai, Darjeeling etc. to tap fresh talent.
05/04/07 Soubhik Mitra/Hindustan Times