Market Intelligence: Middle East

Record Growth in Women Pilots Celebrated at Turkish Airlines Flight Academy

Türkiye – Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA), the ab initio pilot training arm of Turkish Airlines, has highlighted that Turkish Airlines has achieving a significant increase in the number of female pilots over the past 20 years. The announcement was made during the dual graduation ceremony of the 130th and 131st squadrons at Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA).

  • Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş emphasized that female pilots now make up 9% of all TAFA graduates, compared to less than 5% in many airlines worldwide

  • Among 560 current cadets, 73 are women, indicating continued momentum in narrowing the gender gap in aviation

  • The minister highlighted aviation pioneers like Bedriye Tahir Gökmen, Türkiye’s first female pilot, as inspirations for today’s graduates

  • Turkish Airlines Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat reiterated the importance of TAFA’s female graduates in achieving the airline’s growth ambitions

  • TAFA CEO Fatih Ünalan confirmed that the share of women in TAFA’s student body has reached 13%, and expressed a vision for further increases

Source: Turkish Airlines Flight Academy

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Oman Aviation Academy Inducts 13th Batch

Oman – Oman Aviation Academy (OAA), the country’s only approved flight training organisation based in Sohar, marked the start of a new training cycle with the induction of Batch 013, officially welcoming a fresh group of cadets under both EASA and CAA Oman pathways. This milestone underscores OAA’s continuing expansion as a dual-approval pilot training provider in the region. The batch consists of almost 20 students.

Oman Aviation Academy had received ATO EASA certification in February 2024.

Source: 

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Turkish Airlines Flight Academy Celebrates 130th and 131st Cohorts – Graduates 51 New Pilots

Türkiye – Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA), the ab initio pilot training arm of Turkish Airlines, held a graduation ceremony marking its 130th and 131st fleet cohorts, celebrating the advancement of 51 newly qualified pilots. On this symbolic day, dignitaries including the Minister of Family and Social Services Ms. Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Aydın Governor Mr. Yakup Canbolat, and Turkish Airlines Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat joined the event to honour the occasion.

  • The academy extended heartfelt thanks to the Mayor of Aydın Metropolitan Municipality, TAFA’s Board Chair and members, its General Manager, protocol members, and all guests

  • At the ceremony, the Minister observed that “thanks to our trained pilots, the future of our country is in safe hands in the skies,” also highlighting Turkish Airlines’ leading role in promoting female pilots

  • Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat emphasised that over two decades, TAFA has brought nearly 2,000 new pilots into aviation, reinforcing both the Turkish Airlines brand and the national civil aviation sector

  • TAFA CEO Fatih Unalan congratulated the graduates and highlighted TAFA’s continued focus on safety, airline aligned flight training and training infrastructure expansion

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

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Global Pilot Training Solution Provider CAE Hosts UAE Future Aviation Leaders at Montreal Headquarters

Canada & United Arab Emirates – CAE hosted participants of the UAE National Programme for Future Leaders in Civil Aviation at its headquarters, offering them a deep dive into its global civil aviation ecosystem through plant tours, visits to its Air Traffic Services training centre, demonstrations of modern pilot training technologies, and interactive sessions with CAE experts.

CAE operates multiple full flight simulator training centers in the UAE including partnerships with Emirates and flydubai.

Source: CAE

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Global Flight Training Group Airways Aviation Highlights Queensland Export Support in 2025

United Arab Emirates – Airways Aviation, one of the largest aviation and pilot training group’s in the world operating pilot training academies across Europe, the Middle East, Asia/Australia, India and Africa, has shared that it was represented at the Queensland Exporters Roundtable by Rizwan Taj who outlining how the Dubai branch acts as a feeder academy to the Gold Coast campus in Australia and stressing the mutual economic benefit of training students from the GCC region.

  • The event at Jumeirah Emirates Towers was convened by The Hon. Ros Bates MP, Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, and brought together government, diplomatic, investment and business leaders

  • Organized by the Trade & Investment Queensland (TIQ) Middle East team, the roundtable included contributions from Kassem Younes (Commissioner – Middle East) and Emma Page, who support trade ties between Queensland and the Gulf region

  • In his presentation, Taj framed Airways Aviation’s Dubai campus as a pivotal link—enabling students to access world‑class pilot training in Australia, thereby contributing to Australian education, economy, and aviation workforce

  • Dialogue at the roundtable tackled student visa challenges; government officials reportedly committed to reforms aimed at supporting Queensland’s education and training sector

Source: Rizwan Taj (Airways Aviation)

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Emirates Launches USD 8 Million Cabin Crew Training Centre in Dubai

United Arab Emirates — Dubai based flag carrier Emirates has officially launched the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence, a state-of-the-art training facility designed to elevate the service standards of its nearly 25,000 cabin crew. With an investment of USD 8 million, the facility marks a new chapter in airline hospitality training by blending luxury, immersive experiences, and culinary expertise.

  • Located in Dubai, the Emirates Centre of Hospitality Excellence features a restaurant, lounge, elegant training kitchens, and eight tech-enabled classrooms designed to train over 10,000 crew by the end of 2025.

  • Developed as a result of Emirates’ 2020 collaboration with the renowned École Hôtelière de Lausanne, the facility embodies Emirates’ updated hospitality strategy centred on four pillars: excellence, attentiveness, innovation, and passion.

  • New recruits and experienced crew members will undergo immersive fine dining simulations, including four-course meals crafted by Emirates master chefs, served by elite trainers to model best-in-class service delivery.

  • Emirates’ broader crew training ecosystem includes the Emirates Crew Training Centre, where cabin crew undergo rigorous safety, emergency, medical, and service training using full motion cabin simulators of all Emirates aircraft types.

  • These simulators enable realistic, hands-on practice across various flight scenarios, reinforcing Emirates’ commitment to comprehensive and high-fidelity training throughout a crew member’s career.

Statements

  • “Emirates continues to uplift the ‘fly better’ experience for our valued customers. We have invested in the highest levels of luxury hospitality training for our cabin crew, enabling them to really relate to the customers they serve and create unforgettable signature moments. We are delighted to provide our crew with immersive training, allowing them to personally sample the cuisine, the beverages, the ambiance and ultimately, the hospitality Emirates is renowned for. This is how we empower world class cabin crew.” —  Thomas Ney, DSVP of Service Delivery.

Source: Emirates

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FlightLogger Adds “Days Since Last Training” Widget to Business Insights Module

Global – Flight school management software provider FlightLogger has rolled out a new feature set aimed at increasing training visibility and reducing administrative burdens. The platform’s latest update introduces two new “Days Since Last Training” widgets within its Business Insights module, targeting both flight and ground training activity.

  • The new widgets provide real-time insight into student activity by tracking the number of days since each cadet’s last flight or ground session.

  • Designed for flight schools, universities, and training centers managing high cadet volumes, the tools support early identification of inactive students, ensuring timely intervention and continuous training momentum.

  • Benefits include streamlined oversight, reduced manual check-ins, improved student throughput, and better scheduling efficiency.

  • The widgets require activation of the Business Insights module and are available without additional complex setup or retraining.

  • FlightLogger emphasizes that these enhancements are intended to refine existing workflows, not overhaul them, offering clarity for instructors and leadership alike.

Source: FlightLogger

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Airways Aviation’s Rizwan Taj Named to KT150 List for Impact in Aviation Education

United Arab Emirates – Airways Aviation, one of the largest aviation and pilot training group’s in the world operating pilot training academies across Europe, the Middle East, Asia/Australia, India and Africa, has shared that Rizwan Taj has been named a 2025 KT150 List Maker by Khaleej Times, in recognition of his contributions to aviation education in the UAE. The KT150 list honors 150 influential individuals making a significant impact across sectors in the country.

Rizwan Taj has served nearly 11 years at Airways Aviation , playing a key role in shaping the theoretical knowledge curriculum for aspiring pilots in the region.

Statements

  • “A big thanks to Airways Aviation for supporting me throughout my (almost 11-year) journey and for giving me the opportunity to inspire the next generation of pilots. Truly grateful to be part of such an amazing team! Special thanks to Romy Hawatt and the rest of the team for their guidance, kindness, and support in helping me grow in my career, travel the world, and learn so much along the way.” — Rizwan Taj

Source: Airways Aviation

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ICAO Rejects IATA Proposal to Raise Pilot Retirement Age Beyond 65

Global – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has rejected a proposal to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, following deliberations at its 42nd Assembly, held from September 23 to October 3, 2025.

  • The proposal was submitted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and supported by numerous airlines seeking relief from a regional specific global pilot shortage.

  • IATA’s position emphasized that extending the retirement age would enable operators to retain experienced pilots longer while mitigating training pipeline bottlenecks.

  • However, ICAO member states opposed the measure, citing concerns around aviation safety and age-related health risks, and ultimately voted to maintain the current age cap.

  • As a result, pilots aged 65 and above remain prohibited from operating international commercial flights, consistent with ICAO’s standing international standards.

Source: ICAO

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