flydubai broadens pilot training with academy partnerships

Dubai-based airline flydubai has expanded its pilot training program by partnering with Egnatia Aviation and Skyborne Airline Academy. This collaboration aims to provide practical flight training for cadets pursuing a Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) and strengthen the airline's growing operation. The academies will offer cadets access to experienced instructors and advanced training infrastructure in Europe and the United States, while flydubai maintains its own ground-school, simulator, and operational training capabilities in Dubai.

Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith emphasized that the partnership aligns with the airline's long-term strategy to secure pilots for an expanding fleet and network. He highlighted that working with Egnatia and Skyborne would enhance the Ab Initio Pilot Training Programme and prepare cadets for line operations. Senior Vice President of Flight Operations and Crew Training, Captain Ahmad Bin Huzaim, noted that the agreement attracted interest from applicants worldwide, ensuring a diverse group of trainees.

The Ab Initio programme, launched in May 2025, is designed for aspiring pilots with no previous airline flying experience. It encompasses ground school, simulator sessions, and flight instruction before successful trainees advance to line training. The airline has not disclosed the number of cadets in the inaugural intake or the financial terms of the academy partnerships.

Both Egnatia Aviation and Skyborne have received recognition for their training standards from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The external training partnerships complement flydubai's 38,000-square-foot Flight Training Centre, equipped with four Boeing 737 full-flight simulators.

This center supports the airline's efforts to increase in-house pilot development capacity and provides simulator training as cadets progress from foundational instruction to operating the carrier's aircraft.