For months the world has been gripped by airline and airport delays. Now the reason is clear – workers under 40 have deserted the industry. But where did they go?

The airline crisis that has disrupted flights and travel plans of millions around the was caused by a massive staffing crisis.

Airlines have been forced to scrap thousands of flights as airports cancel schedules and ask airlines to cut back on flights.

Now there’s more data about exactly what caused it.

In Europe this summer, the staffing crisis was predominantly caused by younger workers who left the industry during the pandemic, with no plans to return.

Only about a third of the EU’s air transport workers were aged under 40 in the first quarter of the year, which is far lower than the number working before the pandemic.

The numbers who just how serious the task is for airlines to lure back workers to overcome massive delays.

The aviation industry has been caught flat footed this year, as millions return to the skies for so called “holiday revenge”, making up for lost time abroad over the last two years.

Many of the younger workers were employed as cleaners, security and ground handling.

But those hours are also unsociable and often low paid. Meaning workers who left the industry did so for bigger reasons than just the pandemic shutdown.

And now they’ve had time to think about why.

Hiring the air-side roles is made harder by requirements for extensive training and security checks which take time, so candidates end up looking for easier work elsewhere.

“Fundamental changes in the business model have to occur for aviation to remain a competitive career option,” said David Huttner at PA Consulting Group Ltd.

“The industry has always been susceptible to staffing issues within key skill sets, but not at this level.”