Aviation industry labour shortage hits Canadian companies trying to replace grounded Boeing jets

A global shortage of pilots and mechanics is preventing some Canadian aviation service companies from meeting the needs of airlines and other customers scrambling to secure replacements for grounded Boeing 737 MAX jets. North American airlines have canceled thousands of flights since the March grounding of the 737 MAX. In an already busy industry, this has stoked demand for replacement aircraft, and several Canadian companies are eager to oblige. But the industry-wide labour shortage has complicated matters, companies said. "I have the planes but I don't have enough pilots to do all the flights," said Marco Prud'Homme, VP of Montreal-area Nolinor Aviation. The charter company has had to refuse some of the surging number of client requests in the wake of the MAX grounding because of the pilot shortage. <br/>