Overall there's less mystique and enthusiasm about many things mechanical - be it airplanes, cars, etc among the youths. When I was a kid getting a drivers license was the most important thing EVAR! (I was sick of riding my bike to the airport). Today, tons of kids are waiting to start driving, content to let mom do it. When I was a kid you could walk into grocery stores, drug stores, and the like - not even hobby stores - and on the "toy aisle" you'd find model cars and most of the time some model airplanes to build. Haven't seen that in years. The fascination is now with computers. Why drive to see friends when you can text (because all they'd do if together is look at their phones, just in a group). Video games are exciting and you don't have to venture outside where it's not climate controlled. Why go on a date when Pornhub is available for free? I mean, the kids are sick. That's why AI is desperately needed and I welcome our ruling overlord technology.
PS = if you want to attract the kiddos - flying has to be glamorous again. Don't just show all the book learnin' they'll need, or the potential hazards - show the upside of sleeping on a bed of money while having to fight off the chicks.