How important is job tenure to the flight crew's work motivation and engagement relationship?

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between work motivation and work engagement among flight crew members in the Turkish aviation industry, with a specific focus on the moderating role of job tenure. Data were collected from 235 flight crew members (191 cabin crew, 44 cockpit crew) using a structured questionnaire measuring work motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) and work engagement (absorption, dedication, and vigor). Using structural equation modeling (SEM) within the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) framework, the findings reveal that intrinsic motivation is positively related to work engagement, whereas extrinsic motivation is not. Moreover, the moderation analysis conducted via R Software indicates that job tenure strengthens the positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and work engagement. These findings contribute to the literature by addressing a gap in airline management research and providing empirical evidence on how motivational factors influence employee engagement in the aviation sector. The study offers practical implications for airline human resource management, emphasizing the need for tenure-specific engagement strategies to enhance workforce motivation and operational efficiency.