Avia Solutions Group Proposes €35M Investment in Substitute Pilots to Prevent €100M Losses

LONDON, October 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

In 2016 Lufthansa reported that a single six-day-long pilot strike cost the airline €100 million.  

Ryanair's recent high-profile flight cancellations, due to the reported pilot scheduling issues, will cost the Irish airline in the region of €35 million in compensation payouts and other costs.

Industry experts are now seeking new solutions to eliminate the threat of these damaging pilot trade unions once and for all.

"One of the possible options is substitute pilots, who could get their training financed by airlines and then, in a time of need, step in to replace their colleagues on strikes. This would save airlines millions of dollars and, more importantly, save passengers much time and frustration" long-standing aviation business professional and Chairman of the Board at Avia Solutions Group, Gediminas Ziemelis commented.

Substitute pilots: a drastic solution to a pressing problem 

Avia Solutions Group, who manage one of the largest pilot centres in Eastern Europe, has already entered several preliminary confidential contracts with large carriers to train a number of the so called 'substitute pilots'.

These companies are ready to cover the cost of training new pilots for several years and to give them the chance to gain primary flying experience and to accumulate flight hours in smaller airlines. In the event of a pilot strike, the airline which has initially covered this training cost, can call upon that pilot to fill in.

"It is simple math, really. In order to train the aforementioned number of substitute pilots an airline would have to spend approximately €40 to 60 million. Just let me remind you that the recent schedule disruption has already cost Ryanair in excess of €35 million. And who in their sound mind would place their money on this being the only time that pilots refuse to fly in the upcoming decade? I, personally, wouldn't" Ziemelis continued.  

About Avia Solutions Group:  

Avia Solutions Group is an international, publicly traded aviation holding company with over 20 subsidiaries worldwide. Headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Group has representative offices in the USA, the UK, Poland, Serbia, Estonia, Russia, Thailand and Indonesia.