The trend among airlines to employ only enough crew to meet low-season levels and to outsource to meet the needs of peak periods has resulted in a boom in business over the past year for PARC Aviation Flight Crew.
Part of the PARC Group (Stand B400), the Irish-based company was formerly a subsidiary of Ireland's national airline, Aer Lingus.
It continues to supply that carrier but now also lists such major players as British Airways, Lufthansa and Airbus among its clients.
PARC's Edel Curtis explains: "Airlines, just like many other businesses, are looking for ways to bring flexibility into their operations.
"One of the expanding methods is to use contract staff to deal with short to medium-term demand.
The summer months are obviously the busiest in Europe as the number of charter flights booms.
"In the past, airlines would have calculated their crewing needs based on a high-season schedule of flights.
"Now they are looking at the lows and by basing their needs at that level, making financial savings.
"When demand goes up they come to us, and because we have the largest number of flight crew on contract worldwide, we are able to respond to their demands - ranging from leasing one pilot to a full complement of operational crews and flight operations manag
Source: Flight Daily News
