Atlantic Flight Training Academy Proposes Permanent Commercial Pilot Training Base at Galway Airport

Ireland – Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) has submitted a proposal to establish a permanent commercial pilot training and operational base at Galway Airport, offering to become a rent-paying tenant while Galway City Council and Galway County Council retain ownership of the 118-acre Carnmore site. The proposal would add a third operational location to AFTA’s existing Cork and Waterford activities if approved.

• AFTA has offered €100,000 per year in facility rent, plus minimum annual landing charges of between €50,000 and €100,000, giving the councils a proposed minimum direct annual return of €150,000–€200,000 before other airport income. The initial lease would run for five years with renewal options and commercial rent reviews.
• The academy would fund its own teaching fit-out, operational equipment and aircraft-support equipment. Its proposed Galway activity would include commercial pilot training for Irish and international students, aircraft basing, hangarage, maintenance support and daily flying operations.
• AFTA also envisages classroom and instructor facilities at Galway and potential links with University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University and regional industry.
• The proposal estimates that a wider aviation operation incorporating fuel sales, handling, hangarage, business aviation and other activity could generate more than €2 million annually for the airport.
• The plan was submitted during an expressions-of-interest process for Galway Airport, which ceased scheduled commercial operations in 2011 and is jointly owned by Galway City Council and Galway County Council. Six proposals were under consideration during 2026.
• A subsequent October 6 update from local media reported that none of the submissions in the expressions-of-interest process met all of the councils’ required criteria and that applicants had been informed of the outcome. The councils were reported to have recommended examining a dedicated delivery entity for future development of the site.
• AFTA operates a 26-aircraft fleet which includes Cessna 172, Diamond DA40/DA42 and Slingsby training aircraft, with Boeing 737NG and 737 MAX 8200 fixed-base training devices supporting advanced training. The academy has trained more than 2,800 pilots since its establishment in 1995.

Source: Local media