South Africa's Excellentia Airline Academy Accelerates Growth in 2026

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July 8, 2026

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Martin Steer - Founder of Excellentia Airline Academy, which is a South African pilot group providing flight training to students from all over the world.

The conversation covers:

Excellentia's rapid growth: Following the acquisition of Aeronav Academy and Skyhawk Aviation in 2025, Excellentia has grown into one of Africa's large flight training group's with approximately 100 students currently in training. Around 95% of its students are international, with India representing its largest market, reflecting the strong and sustained demand for airline pilots across South Asia and the Middle East.
Fleet expansion is central to the academy’s growth strategy: Excellentia is transitioning towards a standardized fleet of modern Sling Aircraft trainers, having already added new-generation glass cockpit aircraft and expecting further deliveries throughout 2026. The academy's long-term vision is to operate up to 200 aircraft, which Martin believes represents the optimal scale for balancing efficiency while serving only a small fraction of the projected global pilot demand.
Practical experience and airline-focused training: Beyond traditional classroom and flight instruction, Excellentia organizes “Fly Away” exercises that expose students to real-world operational environments, navigation challenges, and diverse airports across South Africa. These initiatives help develop teamwork, decision-making, and operational confidence while providing valuable hour-building opportunities.
Instructor shortages remain one of the industry's biggest challenges: While aircraft availability is a constraint globally, Martin highlighted that finding and retaining qualified flight instructors is equally critical. To address this, Excellentia developed its own “Train the Trainers” program, creating a structured pathway for newly qualified commercial pilots to become instructors, gain experience, and eventually progress into airline careers.
Excellentia differentiates itself through culture, affordability, and quality: Martin attributes much of the academy’s success to its professional culture, strong student support, and commitment to staff development. Combined with South Africa’s favorable flying weather, highly experienced instructor base, and training costs that are significantly lower than many competing markets.

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