European Flight Training Group Opens New Base in Finland in 2026

Denmark & Finland – headquartered Grey Bird Pilot Academy, a flight training group in Europe, has confirmed the official opening of its new training base in Helsinki, marking a key expansion step in the academy’s long-term growth strategy across Northern and Western Europe.

• The first class at the Helsinki base will begin in January 2026, with Grey Bird reporting strong demand and only limited remaining seats.
• The new Finnish campus will be located at VERK | Sörnäistenkatu 1, Antilooppi, a modern training environment intended to support ground school delivery and student services ahead of flight training phases.
• Grey Bird leadership visited the facility this week, including CCO Kasper Bye Lassen, Head of Recruitment Johanna Ekman Klasman, new College and Finnish Base Manager Markus Perttula, and CTO Søren Møller.
• The expansion into Finland follows Grey Bird’s strategic plan announced earlier this year, which outlined upcoming bases in Dublin, Paris, Lyon and Helsinki, supporting rapid growth in student volumes across Europe.
• AFM previously reported that Grey Bird welcomed 40 new students across Denmark and Sweden in January, a 60% year-on-year increase, reflecting rising regional demand for integrated and modular pilot training.
• Grey Bird currently operates bases in Denmark, Sweden and Spain, with Finland now becoming its latest operational market.

Statements

• “A big milestone for Grey Bird Pilot Academy is now becoming a reality: we are officially opening our new base in Finland… Our first class begins in January 2026, and with many students already signed, the last seats are quickly filling up.” – Kasper Bye Lassen, CCO, Grey Bird Pilot Academy

In November 2024 Grey Bird Aviation Group, the company behind Denmark’s largest and one of the leading pilot schools in the Nordics, Grey Bird Pilot Academy, had sold a significant minority stake to the Danish private equity firm, Dansk Ejerkapital. This strategic partnership aims to propel the academy’s ambitious growth plans, including expansion into multiple European markets. Source: Kasper Bye Lassen (Grey Bird Pilot Academy) Photo Credit: Kasper Bye Lassen (Grey Bird Pilot Academy)