Lithuanians' hunger to fly is a serious challenge for the aviation sector. This year, passenger traffic in Lithuanian airports could reach 7 million. However, the country is short of hundreds of different aviation workers – from flight crew, aircraft mechanics to baggage handlers.
As soon as the plane hits the runway, for some, the work just begins.
Markas has been working in aviation for 5 years, although he admits that he found himself near airplanes by chance.
"I never thought I would work at an airport, but a friend asked me if I wanted to try it, so I tried it and stayed," said Mark, a cargo handling agent.
But there is a shortage of such people in aviation. One of the country's largest aircraft ground handling companies is currently looking for 25 new employees.
"From cargo and baggage handlers who load and unload luggage, arriving and departing passenger service agents, dispatchers, ramp agents," said Litcargus Human Resources Director Asta Jurėnaitė about the offered jobs.
According to the Civil Aviation Association, there is currently a shortage of hands to service planes on the ground - 150 more flight crews and as many as 250 aircraft mechanics and engineers.
"New companies are being established, new airlines are emerging, the aviation sector will grow. This means that the need for aviation specialists will definitely grow," said Laurynas Šišovas, vice-dean of the A. Gustaitis Aviation Institute at Vilnius Tech.
But such a shortage of specialists is also due to the hunger for flights. Passenger traffic at Lithuanian airports increased by 12 percent in April.
"With the start of the summer aviation season, we have definitely seen double-digit percentage growth at Lithuanian airports in the past few months. This is determined not only by the desire to travel, the start of the holiday season, but also by the return of popular destinations," explained Martynas Jaugelavicius, a representative of Lithuanian Airports.
And by the end of the year, travel volumes could reach a new record – 6 million people will fly.
"We can already accommodate over 500 passengers on one aircraft. The passenger numbers are truly impressive. Perhaps the hunger for travel and the hunger for impressions is attracting more and more people," A. Jurėnaitė mused.
There is already a shortage of planes in some directions.
"We know what the situation is in the world - there is a shortage of planes. Lithuania does not have a large population, where it would be popular to fly. The vast majority of interesting destinations can be reached with intermediate transfers at airports," explained Žydrė Gavelivelienė, General Director of Estravel Vilnius.
At this rate, workers may suddenly disappear. Will this disrupt travel plans? Or will there be queues at airports?
"Flight safety and punctuality - that's what we try to ensure, but our colleagues have a greater workload," said the Litcargus HR Director.
"Lithuanian airports "We do not experience such problems. Several years ago, we made decisions to have the necessary number of employees, especially at critical moments, such as aviation security checks, and we hope that partners working at Lithuanian airports will find the necessary number of employees so that all stages of the journey go smoothly," assured a representative of Lithuanian Airports.
The university is also reassuring - over 100 students enroll every year and the number is growing. The most popular major is aeronautical mechanical engineering.
"In recent years, interest in various fields of engineering studies has been increasing - aviation studies are no exception. Admission results remain stable and even grow," said the vice-dean of Vilnius Tech's A. Gustaitis Aviation Institute.
Getting to know aviation from a different perspective is not rocket science. Some companies hire people without experience and train them themselves.
And it only takes 3 months to gain the first knowledge.
"For the initial stage, which can serve one of the simpler airlines, where he is already catching on to what is happening," said Artūras Cycarevas, a training instructor at Litcargus.
Where deeper knowledge is needed, companies pay for the studies of future employees.
"Companies also provide incentive scholarships. I think it pays off, because the majority of students are already working in the field of aviation or aeronautics while still studying," said the vice-dean of Vilnius Tech's A. Gustaitis Aviation Institute.
Most aviation professionals earn more than the national average.
For example, a flight attendant who has just started working can earn up to 1400 euros, and a pilot can earn up to 2500 euros after taxes.
Author: Gabrielė Grigošaitytė I LNK.LT
