India’s largest low-cost carrier IndiGo has appointed Aditya Gupta as its new Assistant Manager for Flight Operations (Cadet Pilot Program). Expressing excitement about his new role. Mr. Gupta said, “I am honored to be on board to join a team of such high achievers and look forward to contributing to our continued success.” To know more about IndiGo or Mr. Gupta, connect with him through his LinkedIn Profile.
Source: Aditya Gupta
Photo Credit: IndiGo (shown as meta image)
BAA Training, the leader in aviation training solutions, has completed the large-scale expansion project of the training facilities at Lleida-Alguaire, Spain. The newly built facilities are an answer to the anticipated increased demand for pilot training due to the ongoing global pilot shortage.
As part of the expansion, the new main building can seat 40 students and a 15-person briefing area, which both allow seamless integration between theory and practice when it comes to student training.
“There has been a strong anticipation for a surge in student enrollment, which placed an emphasis on prioritizing our students’ comfort and training excellence here at our ground and flight schools in Lleida-Alguaire,” explained Joaquin Alejandro Suescun Atencio, Head of Flight School Operations at BAA Training. “That is why we made a strategic decision all the way back in 2022 to design and build new student facilities with those priorities in mind. Not only are we able to accommodate a larger number of students here in Lleida-Alguaire, but we also create an immersive infrastructure for both the faculty and the students.”
These new facilities encompass modern study spaces, well-equipped briefing rooms, spacious lounge areas, refreshing green spaces, and other additional amenities, creating a more effective and suitable training environment for networking and collaboration. The new training facilities have already welcomed their first batch of BAA Training students.
“The training demand to prepare well-rounded airline pilots is growing at a steady pace, that is for sure,” adds Miguel Del Moral, Corporate Strategy Manager at BAA Training. “One of our most popular training programs, the BAA Training Cadet Program, has been at the forefront of tackling that demand. Enrolled students cover all the bases: from theory and flight training all the way to Type Rating and guaranteed job offers at our partners—leading European airlines. The investment made into expanding our Lleida-Alguaire premises is, too, playing a significant role in making the cadet training program that much more attractive.”
The company’s overall growth has also included the significant expansion of BAA Training’s Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft fleet to develop the biggest pilot training base in Spain. The 48 Cessna 172s will be delivered by 2026.
To ensure the airworthiness and safety of the expanding aircraft fleet used for training, BAA Training’s MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) company, Avia Repair Co, has played a key role in Spain. With the hangar close to the flight school facilities, the company can guarantee effective routine inspections, repairs, and other necessary maintenance work.
To give a better look at the new training facilities in Lleida-Alguaire and to provide more information and insight into the cadet programs available, BAA Training is hosting an Open Door Day on June 15th, 2024.
In April 2024 BAA Training announced that it had partnered with Luxair, the flag carrier of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, has indicated that it will have “additional flight bases are scheduled for launch in the second half of 2024, with further openings in 2025 and 2026 across other parts of Europe.”.
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 212 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 12,000 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates worldwide.
Source: BAA Training
Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA), a flight training organisation and subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, signed a purchase agreement with France headquartered flight simulator manufacturer ALSIM for two Cessna 172 simulators during the IFTE 2024. This follow’s TAFA taking delivery of 10 brand new Cessna 172S training aircraft in 2023 to operate a fleet of 24 Cessna 172S aircraft.
In addition in 2023 Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) signed an agreement with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for 20 single-engine training aircraft.
“As we prepare to carry our brand further within the scope of our vision for the next 10 years, it makes us all proud to see the high level of domestic and national opportunities and capabilities,” said Ahmet Bolat, Chairman at Turkish Airlines. “Our pilots to be trained with our aircraft to be produced by TAI will bring us closer to the fleet target of 800 aircraft, which we aim to have in 2033.”
“On the other hand, with this valuable agreement that will support TAFA to become an international pilot training center, the star of Turkish aviation will shine even brighter,” added Bolat.
Source: IFTE
IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The order will help expand IndiGo’s international network to long-haul destinations.
India, the world’s fastest growing major aviation market, is on the verge of an international travel boom as the economy grows and household incomes rise. The A350 is perfectly positioned to serve the country’s aspirations for long-range travel. The choice of the A350 is a reaffirmation of IndiGo’s continued trust in Airbus and is yet another validation of the aircraft as the undisputed leader in long-haul air travel.
“Today’s historic moment marks a new chapter for IndiGo and will further shape the future of the airline and for Indian aviation at the same time. For IndiGo, after successfully pioneering the Indian skies with an unprecedented journey, its fleet of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft will allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players. At IndiGo, we take pride in being India’s preferred airline and for offering connectivity to our customers, in and with India. This reaffirms IndiGo’s belief in, and commitment to, the growth of India, and in our strategic partnership with Airbus,” said Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo.
“A heartfelt thank you to IndiGo for putting its trust in Airbus once again, and to our respective teams who negotiated this agreement for 30 A350s. IndiGo’s first widebody order opens an exciting new chapter in our close partnership. We are proud that our fuel-efficient, next-generation A320 Family revolutionised domestic air travel in India, and that now the A350 is poised to replicate the same success on long-haul routes,” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft.
Bound in a relationship of symbiotic growth with India for more than half a century, Airbus products and services have catalysed the growth of the country’s civil aviation sector. While the Airbus A320 Family is supporting the democratisation of air travel in India, the A350 has become the reference aircraft to unlock the true potential of the international market for the Indian carriers.
IndiGo is among the fastest growing airline companies in the world, and is one of the largest A320 Family customers.
The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300-410 seater category. The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.
Source: Airbus
His Excellency Eng. Saeed Al Mawali, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Communications and Information and Chairman of Oman Air, alongside the Oman Air’s Board of Directors, have announced the appointment of Con Korfiatis as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer. A highly accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry, Con is set to steer Oman Air’s ongoing transformation, which aims to turn the airline’s financial operations around.
His Excellency Eng. Saeed Hamoud Al Mawali said, “Con’s professional background, coupled with his expertise in organizational transformation and strategy development, make him the perfect fit to lead Oman Air through this crucial phase of its transformation. We have full confidence in Con’s ability to steer the company towards sustainable, long-term success while guiding it through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Con’s three-decade-long career includes numerous CEO appointments across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, with notable accomplishments including founding four start-up initiatives in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore and China. He has also held a string of other executive management roles in finance, strategy, commercial, alliances, operations, network, branding and marketing, across some of the world’s most successful airlines. The airline also thanked Capt. Nasser Al Salmi for his support during his tenure as Acting CEO.
Source: Oman Air
Photo Credit: Oman Air
