Market Intelligence: Middle East

UAE’s Air Arabia Academy Opens Recruitment in 2025 for Senior FSTD Operations Role

United Arab Emirates – Air Arabia Academy has announced that it is recruiting an FSTD Operations Manager to oversee the full operational, regulatory and technical lifecycle of its flight simulation training devices. The role forms a key part of the academy’s expansion of simulator capability in support of the group’s training demand.

  • The position will lead day-to-day FSTD operations and maintenance, ensuring compliance with GCAA/EASA standards and managing defect reporting processes.

  • Responsibilities include oversight of qualification activities, conducting quarterly subjective tests and QTG runs, coordinating and approving modifications, and completing Management of Change and Risk Assessments.

  • The FSTD Operations Manager will also support GCAA/EASA inspections, internal audits, and ensure documentation, logs and compliance records remain continuously up to standard.

  • The role includes monitoring contracted maintenance providers to verify SLA performance and regulatory adherence.

Role Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical or equivalent engineering discipline.

  • Minimum 10 years’ relevant engineering experience.

  • Must meet GCAA nominated postholder criteria under ORA.GEN.210(b).

About Air Arabia Academy
Air Arabia Academy is the training arm of Air Arabia, providing pilot training, cabin crew training and aviation programmes aligned with GCAA and EASA standards. The academy supports Air Arabia’s expanding fleet and regional training activities, including simulator-based qualification and recurrent training.

Source: Air Arabia Academy

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IATA Highlights Strong International Traffic as Asia and Middle East Lead Growth in October 2025

Global – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released global passenger traffic results for October 2025, reporting continued strength in both international and domestic markets despite increasing macroeconomic uncertainty. Total global demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), rose 6.6% year-on-year, supported by capacity growth of 5.8%, pushing the worldwide load factor to 84.6%.

  • International demand increased 8.5% year-on-year, with capacity up 7.1% and load factor improving by 1.1 percentage points to 84.6%.

  • Domestic demand rose 3.4%, with capacity up 3.6%; the domestic load factor remained stable at 84.6%.

  • IATA noted a rebound in North American international traffic, rising 4.5%, compared to several months of sluggish performance earlier in the year. Scheduled global capacity is forecast to expand 3.6% in November and 4.7% in December, signalling strong year-end leisure and business travel demand.

Regional International Market Highlights

  • Asia-Pacific: Demand up 10.9%; capacity up 9.1%; load factor 84.4% (+1.4 ppt). Traffic to/from China, Japan and Vietnam exceeded 10% growth, reflecting robust intra-Asia recovery.

  • Europe: Demand up 7.4%; capacity up 6.0%; load factor 86.5% (+1.2 ppt), the highest among all regions.

  • North America: Demand up 4.5%; capacity up 4.7%; load factor 84.2% (-0.1 ppt). Transatlantic traffic grew 3.8%.

  • Middle East: Demand up 10.7%; capacity up 8.1%; load factor 82.5% (+2.0 ppt). Growth partly reflects recovery from last year’s geopolitically affected base.

  • Latin America: Demand up 7.2%; capacity up 8.2%; load factor 84.6% (-0.8 ppt).

  • Africa: Demand up 7.3%; capacity up 5.3%; load factor 74.1% (+1.4 ppt).

Source: IATA

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SolitAir and IAA Launch Pilot Mentorship Program to Strengthen UAE Training Pipeline

United Arab Emirates – SolitAir, a cargo operator based at Dubai World Central (DWC), and flight training group Intercontinental Aviation Academy (IAA), part of the Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise group, have signed a strategic agreement to launch the SolitAir Mentor Programme—a structured, airline-aligned cadet development pathway aimed at producing airline-ready pilots.

  • The mentorship programme will integrate with IAA’s EASA and GCAA ICAO ATPL integrated training curriculum, offering selected cadets personalised mentorship from SolitAir professionals throughout their training.

  • SolitAir will select candidates from current and upcoming IAA cadet intakes (September 2025 and January 2026), monitoring performance at key milestones including ATPL ground school and flight training phases.

  • Top-performing cadets may be invited to undertake advanced airline-specific development, including simulator support, base training, and type-rating opportunities through IAA’s training partners.

  • SolitAir will also introduce workshops on airline operations, safety culture, crew resource management (CRM), and emerging aviation technologies, reinforcing operational readiness.

  • Graduating cadets will undergo a joint assessment by both organisations, and eligible candidates may be considered for employment at SolitAir.

  • Cadets enrolled in the initiative will wear a SolitAir badge on their uniforms as a symbol of the mentorship commitment throughout their training.

Statements

  • “SolitAir has always believed that the future of our airline begins with the people we invest in today. This partnership with IAA is more than a mentorship programme – it is a strategic step toward building a new generation of pilots aligned with our values, operational standards and long-term vision. By engaging cadets early, guiding their development and sharing real airline insights, we are shaping talent ready not just to fly, but to thrive in a rapidly evolving aviation industry.” – Hamdi Osman, Founder & CEO, SolitAir

  • “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to shaping aviation’s future through quality mentorship and airline-driven training pathways from the ground school.” – Capt. Wissam Al Mehyou, CEO of Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise and Chairman of IAA Global

About SolitAir
SolitAir is a UAE-based cargo airline headquartered at Dubai World Central (DWC), operating narrowbody Boeing 737-800 freighters across key Global South markets. Founded in 2024 by Hamdi Osman, SolitAir focuses on express middle-mile, charter, and scheduled B2B cargo services with a 98%+ on-time delivery rate.

About Intercontinental Aviation Academy UAE
FlyIAA UAE is a subsidiary of Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise, providing EASA, GCAA, and ICAO-compliant pilot training . The academy supports regional and international cadets with advanced training resources, modern fleets, and multiple training bases.

Source: FlyIAA
Photo Credit: FlyIAA

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TAI’s Hurjet Jet Trainer Moves Into Production Phase

Türkiye – Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is advancing the testing, mass-production setup and export negotiations for the Hurjet, Türkiye’s first domestically developed advanced jet trainer, as the programme transitions from prototype evaluation to serial manufacturing.

  • Two Hurjet prototypes have completed around 340 flights and 260 flight hours, progressing through the aircraft’s full design envelope as development milestones continue.

  • Assembly is underway for the first aircraft destined for the Turkish Air Force’s Turkish Stars aerobatic team, with delivery scheduled for 2026. The next newly produced aircraft is expected to complete its first flight in the first quarter of next year.

  • TAI is establishing a production line capable of manufacturing two aircraft per month, with the Turkish Air Force set to receive an initial batch of 16 units, to be expanded as additional configurations enter production.

  • The Hurjet programme, launched in 2017 with a maiden flight achieved in April 2023, is Türkiye’s first supersonic jet-powered training aircraft and is designed for modern fighter training, armed and unarmed patrol, and aerobatic missions.

  • Key performance specifications include a Mach 1.4 top speed, service ceiling of 45,000 feet, and a payload capacity of three tons across seven external stations.

Source: TAI

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