FTEJerez and Air Astana Renew Cadet Pilot Training Agreement with MPL Expansion in 2026

Spain & Kazakhstan – FTEJerez and Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, have renewed their cadet pilot training agreement, extending a relationship that began in 2013 and moving the partnership into Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) training. The agreement provides for further Air Astana cadets to train with the Spanish academy over the coming years.

• More than 150 Air Astana cadets have trained at FTEJerez since the airline first selected the academy in 2013.
• The first Air Astana MPL cohort comprises six cadets who are approaching completion of the program. In September 2026, the group began its Airbus A320 Type Rating in Madrid, the final training phase before returning to Air Astana.
• Air Astana's H1 2026 mainline fleet comprised 35 aircraft: three Boeing 767-300ERs, three Airbus A320ceo/A321ceo aircraft and 29 A320neo/A321neo/A321neo LR aircraft. The concentration of 32 A320-family aircraft provides the operational context for the A320 Type Rating phase incorporated into the new MPL pathway.
• FTEJerez stated in June 2026 that two additional Piper Archer DX aircraft would increase its training fleet to 46 aircraft following their planned August arrival. Its current fleet page lists 13 Piper Archers, 20 Piper Warriors, nine Diamond DA42s, one Robin R2160, and one Citabria.

Statements

• “The renewal of our agreement with Air Astana reflects the strength of a partnership that has continued to develop since 2013. We are particularly proud to have taken this relationship a step further through the introduction of MPL training and look forward to continuing to support Air Astana in the training of its future pilots,” said Oscar Sordo, CEO at FTEJerez. 

Source: FTEJerez