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Turkish Airlines Flight Academy Celebrates 120th Graduation

Aydin, Turkey – Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA), the flight training group subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, marked a significant milestone with the graduation ceremony of its 120th batch. The event, attended by TAFA General Manager Prof. İbrahim Zeki Akyurt, executives, and guests, celebrated the latest group of pilots completing their training.

TAFA conducted a remarkable growth over the past five years. The academy has expanded its operational capacity threefold and significantly increased its annual flight hours to 68,000 in 2024.

The academy currently trains 281 pilots annually, with plans to increase this figure to graduate 350 by 2026.

Source: Turkish Airlines Flight Academy
Photo Credit:  Turkish Airlines Flight Academy

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Spartan Education Group’s Student Pilots Visit Allegiant Airlines in 2025 as Part of Pathway Program

USA – Spartan Education Group (SEG), an operator of flight training bases, through its Altitude Pilot Pathway program, organized a visit of part of its students to Allegiant Airlines in Las Vegas, providing pilots with a firsthand look at the airline’s operations and career opportunities.

“Had a fantastic trip to Las Vegas and Allegiant Airlines with a group of amazing pilots from the Altitude Pilot Pathway at McAir Aviation! Grateful for the opportunity to connect, learn, and experience firsthand what makes Allegiant a unique and exciting place in the industry.” shared Todd Cellini, Spartan Education Groups’ Chief Operating Officer.

Back in February 2023 SEG announced it started accepting cadets into the Altitude Pilot Pathway, a training program developed in partnership with Allegiant Travel Company. The pathway delivers FAA Part 141 ab initio pilot training together with customized courses and experiences resulting in enhanced preparedness for pilot opportunities at Allegiant.

Spartan Education Group brings its expertise and a 94-year history in aviation training to the collaboration with Allegiant. The program, located at Spartan’s flight school in Broomfield, CO, provides coaching, instruction, and support for current and future cadets to go from zero flight hours to sitting in the first officer seat.

Source: Todd Cellini (Spartan Education Group)
Photo Credit: Todd Cellini

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FTEJerez Welcomes Ryanair Executives in January 2025 to Showcase Career Pathways for Cadets

Jerez, Spain – FTEJerez hosted Ryanair’s Deputy Head of Training, Captain Steve Gibson, and Ryanair Future Flyer Academy Standards Instructor, Lionel Murphy, for a presentation to its students in January 2025. The event provided valuable insights into Ryanair’s operations and career pathways for aspiring pilots, highlighting opportunities within Europe’s largest airline group.

  • The presentation detailed career pathways such as Ryanair’s Ab Initio and Gateway 2 (APS MCC) programs, offering students a direct path to airline careers.
  • As part of the collaboration between FTEJerez and Ryanair, a Ryanair Instructor Standardisation Seminar was also conducted. This training ensures FTEJerez instructors deliver APS MCC training fully aligned with Ryanair’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • The partnership strengthens the training framework for Ryanair mentored cadets, setting them up for success.

About FTEJerez
Located in Jerez, Spain, FTEJerez is a leading European flight training academy, offering professional pilot training programs and mentored pathways in partnership with major airlines.

Source: FTEJerez

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Latvian Airline Achieves Record Passenger Growth and Fleet Expansion in 2024

Riga, Latvia – Latvian national airline airBaltic has reported record-breaking passenger numbers and significant fleet expansion in 2024, reinforcing its position as the leading carrier in the Baltic region. The airline carried 8.3 million passengers, marking its highest-ever annual total, alongside a strong operational performance.

  • airBaltic conducted over 73,000 flights in 2024, with a load factor of 81.2%.
  • The airline expanded its fleet with three additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft, bringing the total to 49, and exercised options for 10 more, aligning with its long-term goal of reaching 100 aircraft by 2030.
  • The airBaltic workforce grew to over 2,700 professionals, with the launch of the airBaltic Technical Academy and the graduation of the 100th student from the Pilot Academy.

Statement:

  • “2024 has been a remarkable year for airBaltic. Our continued focus on progress, innovation, and expanding our global reach positions us strongly for the future. In 2025, we plan to ensure strong connectivity, enhance our fleet with additional new aircraft, and continue to innovate across all aspects of our operations.” – Martin Gauss, President and CEO of airBaltic

About airBaltic
airBaltic is the leading airline in the Baltics, operating a hybrid model that combines the benefits of both traditional and low-cost carriers. With a fleet of 49 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, airBaltic connects the region to over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus, with more than 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and seasonally Gran Canaria.

Source: airBaltic
Photo Credit: airBaltic

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Ryanair Visits Bartolini Air in January 2025 to Support Future Flyer Academy Cadets

Łódź, Poland – Ryanair representatives visited Bartolini Air, a long-standing partner flight school, to engage with cadets enrolled in the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy training programme. The visit reaffirmed Ryanair’s commitment to developing future pilots through its structured training pathway.

To support the growing flight training requirement training aircraft manufacturer Tecnam and Bartolini Air announced in December 2024 the purchase of six (6) additional Tecnam P2008JC and two (2) P2006T NG twin-engine aircraft for Bartolini Air’s fleet expansion programme. The aircraft will be used from PPL – Private Pilot Licence – to advanced commercial pilot training such as CPL(A), IR(A) and MEP(L) as well as for integrated ab-initio commercial pilot training.

TThe Polish ATO operates twenty-two (22) aircraft and with the new eight (8) acquired, it will be a total of thirty (30) aircraft, of which twenty-six (26) are Tecnam.

Bartolini Air has more than two hundred (200) cadets every year and is one of only six official Ryanair partners within the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy.

Source: Angelo C. (Ryanair and Bartolini Air)
Photo Credit: Bartolini Air

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