The aviation industry is mostly known for its importance in travel and tourism, allowing families and friends to travel the world within hours. But did you know that it is also one of the most regulated and operationally intense industries in the world? As aviation companies grow and become more globalised, internal HR teams are increasingly expected to manage complex compliance requirements, highly specialised recruitment needs, as well as cross-border employment challenges. All of this whilst also staying lean and cost-effective.
For organisations that are going through periods of rapid change or expansion, outsourcing HR has become one of the most strategic solutions there is. It is no longer just about trying to cut costs, but it is about enhancing efficiency, compliance, and scalability.
Specialised Recruitment Is Slowing Down Operations
When recruiting in the aviation industry, it is not just about reaching the quota or hiring a skilled employee. It requires finding individuals who are equipped with precise certifications, regulatory clearances, and often, multilingual or international experience. When internal teams are stretched thin due to operational needs and demands, they can struggle to fill roles in a fast and efficient manner, especially during the seasonal surge or aircraft expansions.
In fact, when it comes to the US airline industry, outsourced employment went up from 19% in 2001 to 30% in 2018, showing just how important aviation companies have already changed their recruitment strategy.
Compliance Burdens Are Mounting
As per previously mentioned, the aviation industry is a heavily regulated industry, with international authorities such as EASA, FAA, and ICAO that govern crew hours, license renewals, background checks, and training timelines. It is considered that if one expiration date is missed, then it can jeopardise the safety of individuals, lead to fines, or even stop the aircraft from flying.
Many companies in the aviation industry have a new mindset nowadays. Instead of risking non-compliance or overworking their internal HR team, they are now outsourcing critical compliance functions. With this strategy, it allows companies to ensure that all documentation is up to date and managed with the necessary precision across multiple countries and regions.
Global and Seasonal Workforce Needs Demand Flexibility
The many individuals within the industry are aware that the staffing environment is rarely stable. Whether companies are hiring for peak season travel, MRO scheduling cycles, or AOG response teams, the aviation workforce changes rapidly. Being able to manage this fluctuation within the company is difficult, as it requires many resources and is mostly inefficient.
Outsourcing HR is able to reduce operational costs by up to 22%. This makes it significantly more cost-effective during fluctuating demand cycles.
Limited In-House Infrastructure Slows HR Modernisation
There are many SME’s that are still relying on outdated HR practices, such as manual onboarding, paper-based documentation, as well as inconsistent performance reviews.
The majority of the time, external HR partners bring the latest advanced digital tools that are part of their service. According to a global study, 45% of HR outsourcing is for consulting, 36% for benefits administration, and 24% for time tracking, all areas where aviation companies frequently need support.
Cross-Border Hiring Is Riskier Than Ever
With all aviation companies wanting to expand regionally or globally, they sometimes fail to understand that even the HR responsibilities increase. From tax law compliance to employee classification, regional nuances can easily become legal liabilities.
Rather than building an internal HR team in every region, aviation companies are outsourcing cross-border employment management to make sure that they comply legally and reduce overhead costs. The HR outsourcing market itself is expected to grow from $31.2 billion in 2024 to $56.4 billion by 2034, showing just how widespread this shift has become.
Onboarding and Deployment Must Happen Fast
Flight schedules don’t wait, and neither can recruitment. In this day and age, aviation companies need to act quickly, such as with after contract wins, new route launches, or even aircraft acquisitions. They all must onboard staff in days, not weeks
Outsourced HR provides an average ROI of 191%, with large firms saving approximately €3,000 per month on payroll costs alone. With these savings, they are not just realised through reduced salaries, but also through streamlined, tech-driven onboarding that reduces the chances for delays.
Employee Experience Needs Improvement
Like many other industries, one of the primary goals is to get as much low turnover as possible, though within the aviation industry, it is quite a difficult task. This is due to seasonal or contract-based roles. But often, retention issues aren’t rooted in salary, but they come from poor onboarding, inconsistent communication, or unclear career paths.
Having outsourced HR partners can bring the best practices from across industries and can help aviation companies implement structured onboarding, ongoing feedback systems, as well as automated performance evaluations that improve the overall employee experience.
How to Know It’s Time
If you have an HR team that is consistently behind on compliance tasks, struggling with recruitment timelines, or even overwhelmed by international expansion, then it may be time to consider outsourcing HR. The decision doesn’t need to be all or nothing, as many aviation companies start by outsourcing recruitment, compliance tracking, or contract management before expanding further.
Outsourcing HR for a Smoother Takeoff
Given the nature of the aviation industry, with its high stakes and complexities, managing HR within this space is not an easy task. It demands accuracy, scalability, and sector-specific knowledge that’s hard to maintain internally, especially as the organisation grows.
That’s where Aeroates comes in. By offering HR solutions tailored to the specific needs of aviation companies, Aeroates helps reduce compliance risk, speed up recruitment, and use the latest technologies, without compromising control.
Whether you’re navigating a busy season, expanding across borders, or simply ready to streamline your people operations, outsourcing HR through an experienced aviation partner can elevate your workforce strategy.
