Global – pilot training group BAA Training, part of the Avia Solutions Group, has released its insight into the dynamics of the pilot training market in 2025, highlighting contrasting trends between ab initio growth and a slowdown in type rating activity.

• In 2025, ab initio and MPL (Multi-crew Pilot Licence) programs gained momentum as airlines prioritized long-term pilot workforce strategies over short-term hiring, with airlines such as Volotea and Qatar Airways expanding cadet partnerships with BAA Training. MPL training was increasingly valued for its alignment with airline procedures and predictability in cadet readiness and output.

• BAA Training reported that structured cadet pathways offered greater stability for training organizations, reducing reliance on self-funded students and strengthening alignment with airline demand cycles.

• Type rating activity, by contrast, was constrained due to delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus. Airlines focused on optimizing existing fleets rather than expanding, leading to a reduction in type rating course demand.

• Despite type rating challenges, fleet transitions and cost-driven aircraft family changes still created isolated demand, particularly for narrow-body aircraft, which dominate global order books.

• Looking to 2026, BAA Training identified Asia and the Middle East as the key growth regions. Record aircraft orders from FlyDubai, Qatar Airways, Vietjet, and new market entrants like Sun PhuQuoc Airways signal a surge in future training needs.

• With narrow-body aircraft representing 88.9% of Airbus’s backlog and Middle Eastern aviation projected to exceed $730 billion in GDP contribution by 2043, the shift in training demand is increasingly regional and long-term.

Statements

• “After years of reactive hiring, we’re seeing serious investment in ab initio and cadet programs. They know they’ll need pilots, and they’re acting on it now,” said Aira Klusaitiene, Chief Sales Officer at BAA Training.

• “Airlines using MPL programs consistently tell us their cadets are better prepared for line operations,” Klusaitiene says. The training is tailored to airline procedures from day one, which makes the transition smoother. We’re also seeing airlines value the stability—they know exactly when pilots will be ready and what competencies they’ll have.”

• “Last year was challenging for type rating. Deliveries slowed significantly, and airlines focused on optimization. We saw experienced pilots put back into the market. But even with that, fleet transitions—like airlines switching aircraft families for cost-effectiveness—still created pockets of demand,” Klusaitiene notes.

• “2026 looks different regionally,” Klusaitiene says. “Middle East orders are significant. Qatar Airways alone ordered 160 widebody aircraft. When those deliveries accelerate, training demand will follow. In Vietnam, for example, we’re seeing both fleet expansion from established carriers and new airline launches. This creates sustained pilot demand across multiple fronts.”

About BAA Training
BAA Training is a global aviation training organization delivering both Ab Initio and Type Rating training. BAA Training operates simulator centers in Spain, France, Lithuania, and Vietnam, a global sales representative office in Dubai, UAE, and three consultancy centers in India: New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. As one of Europe’s select EASA-standard Approved Training Organizations (ATOs) handles approximately 100,000 flight hours annually on its own FFS/FTD devices, providing Type Rating to over 1,200 pilots and serving more than 100 airlines and 300 private customers. The organization owns a range of FFSs and FTDs for Airbus A320, Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 737 NG, Boeing 737 CL, and Boeing B747-400 types. Additionally, it has access to a network of 60 partners’ FFSs in 22 global locations. On the Ab Initio side, the academy has a Flight School in Spain and with a growing fleet (60 Cessna 172 aircraft by 2026) it offers ATPL Integrated, CPL Modular, and MPL programs.

About Avia Solutions Group
BAA Training is part of the Irish company Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, with a fleet of 145 aircraft. The group also provides a range of aviation services including MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, and various associated services. Supported by 14,000 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates in 68 countries worldwide.

Source: BAA Training
Photo Credit: BAA Training