Deloitte, the global consulting firm, recently unveiled their exclusive Airline CEO Survey results that delve into the key recruitment priorities and concerns haunting airline executives worldwide. Presented on May 29, 2025, the survey gathered insights from 32 top airline CEOs in April 2025, just following the announcement of new tariffs by US President Donald Trump.

Economic and market conditions emerged as the most critical risk factors according to 50% of the CEOs surveyed, closely followed by geopolitical instability, flagged by 47% of respondents. Supply chain disruptions ranked third at 40%, while concerns about tariffs and pandemics were less pronounced, with only 10% and 3% of CEOs respectively expressing worries.

Deloitte highlighted the evolving landscape by noting that risks stemming from fragile consumer and business confidence, rising operating costs, and unpredictable demand patterns have overtaken the disruptions caused by COVID-19 as the primary sources of concern.

A recurring theme across the responses was the top priorities for enhancing operations in the next 12 months. Operational excellence was prominently featured, endorsed by 66% of airline CEOs, followed by focus on cost control and financial health equally at 66%, with customer experience completing the trio at 55%.

Deloitte experts observed a strategic shift among airlines towards leaner and more efficient operations after a phase of rapid growth and workforce expansion. One intriguing aspect revealed from the survey was the emphasis on specific workforce initiatives to address evolving airline needs. Leadership development and succession planning topped the list at 53%, closely followed by employee engagement, experience, and well-being at 47%. Surprisingly, only 30% of CEOs identified pilot recruitment as one of their top three priorities, indicating a shift in focus.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) emerged as a key sustainability goal for 80% of airline CEOs, with block time fuel optimization and fleet modernization also ranking high, selected by 63% and 53% of the surveyed CEOs respectively.

For a deeper dive into the insights from Deloitte's 2025 Airline CEO Survey, head over to their website for the full report.