AAI finalises 11 players for flying schools at seven airports

The FTO expansion assumes significance at a time when Indian airlines have placed record aircraft orders and are expected to require thousands of additional pilots over the coming years to support fleet induction and network expansion

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State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) has finalised 11 bidders to establish Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), or flying schools, at seven airports across the country as part of the Centre’s efforts to expand domestic pilot training capacity.Speaking to businessline, sources said the selected bidders will be issued Letter of Intent (LoIs) to establish FTOs at airports in Keshod, Kadapa, Hubballi, Tuticorin, Kishangarh, Dholera and Solapur under Round-III (Phase-I) of AAI’s FTO development programme.The initiative is aligned with the Centre’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and is aimed at strengthening aviation training infrastructure amid growing demand for pilots in India.Accordingly, the programme seeks to create additional pilot training capacity by leveraging underutilised airport infrastructure while encouraging private investment in aviation training.The FTO expansion assumes significance at a time when Indian airlines have placed record aircraft orders and are expected to require thousands of additional pilots over the coming years to support fleet induction and network expansion. The selected operators will establish the necessary training infrastructure, including aircraft, simulators, classrooms, maintenance facilities and qualified instructors, in accordance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requirements.Meanwhile, these airports have been selected based on operational suitability, available airspace and infrastructure required for flight training activities.Consequently, the programme is expected to reduce dependence on overseas training facilities by creating additional domestic capacity for commercial pilot training, while also improving access to training opportunities across different regions of the country.The state-run AAI has been progressively expanding the flying training ecosystem through successive bidding rounds as part of its strategy to develop India into a global aviation training hub. The successful bidders will be required to complete regulatory approvals and infrastructure development before commencing flying training operations.In addition, data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation showed that the country currently has 10,261 valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) holders.The government has projected that India will require around 30,000 pilots over the next 15-20 years to support the induction of around 2,000 aircraft already on order by India’s airlines.Published on August 3, 2026