New Zealand – New Zealand Airline Academy Ltd (NZAAL), one of the country’s largest flight training organisations, will establish a new training base in Whanganui in early 2026 following the signing of an agreement with the Whanganui District Council. The move expands NZAAL’s footprint beyond its existing headquarters in Ōamaru and ensures the continuation of international pilot training operations at Whanganui Airport.
- Under the agreement, NZAAL will occupy airport facilities currently used by the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy (NZICPA), ensuring uninterrupted flight training activity during the transition period.
- The Whanganui District Council and its subsidiary, Whanganui District Council Holdings Limited (Holdings), have been working to maintain training continuity at the airport by providing short-term financial and managerial support to NZICPA during the handover phase.
- Jonathan Manual, CEO of NZAAL, said: “Now, by God’s grace, we are preparing to launch our second base in January 2026.”
- NZAAL Director Celroy Mascarenhas confirmed that the new base will help meet rising global pilot demand and extend the academy’s training reach across both the South and North Islands.
- The development follows several months of negotiation between NZAAL and the council, originally reported in August 2025, as part of Whanganui’s wider effort to secure the future of international aviation training in the region.
Source: NZAAL & Local Media Reporting
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