AIANZ CE Simon Wallace features on Newstalk ZB and in NZ Herald

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Aviation Industry Association CE Simon Wallace spoke on Newstalk ZB’s Early Edition and was also featured in the NZ Herald this week, outlining growing concerns about staffing shortages across New Zealand’s aviation sector.

Listen here

In both interviews, Aviation Industry Association of New Zealand chief executive Simon Wallace highlighted the ongoing global demand for New Zealand aviation professionals, particularly air traffic controllers, warning that international competition for talent is intensifying.

He said New Zealand is struggling to compete with the financial incentives being offered offshore.

“There is a real global shortage of air traffic controllers and they are being poached by the likes of some of the Middle East countries and others with very attractive packages,” he said.

Simon told the Herald that the issue extends well beyond air traffic control, with pilot and engineer shortages also placing pressure on the sector.

“There are not enough young New Zealanders coming through the pipeline. We’re getting our best people poached from offshore and we’re having to find people to come into the industry from offshore.”

He said the new permanent Aviation Council, which brings together leaders from across the public and private sectors, is now focused on long-term workforce and capability planning for the aviation industry. The council is set to meet later this month.

While New Zealand may struggle to match overseas pay packets, Wallace said the country can compete on lifestyle, working conditions, and engagement, noting improved communication between Airways New Zealand and the wider industry following last year’s oceanic airspace outage.

Simon also pointed to the rapid growth of commercial drone operators within AIANZ’s membership, describing them as the association’s fastest-growing segment and calling for stronger regulatory settings to support safe integration into the aviation system.

“We’re pushing for that because we don’t want all these recreational drones to be causing risks to aviation.”

He said certification and regulatory reform for unmanned aerial vehicles would be critical over the next two years as drone use continues to expand across commercial sectors.

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