7 October 2025
Air India and Airbus have joined forces to launch a pilot training centre at the Air India Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram, marking a major milestone in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
The new facility, a joint venture between the two companies, will train more than 5,000 new pilots over the next decade, supporting India’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.
The centre was inaugurated by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, alongside Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer and Air India CEO Campbell Wilson.
Launch ceremony for the new Air India-Airbus joint venture
The training hub will feature ten Full Flight Simulators (FFS) — eight for the Airbus A320 family and two for the A350. Two simulators are already operational, with the rest to be installed progressively. Courses offered at the facility are approved by both India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Jürgen Westermeier, president of Airbus India and South Asia, hailed the partnership as a “strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry.”
Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson added, “With 570 new aircraft on order, Air India is in expansion mode.
“This new pilot training centre will not only equip our growing team of pilots but also strengthen India’s aviation infrastructure. Together with Airbus, we’re building the foundation for a self-reliant and world-class aviation ecosystem.”
In addition to the Gurugram project, Air India is developing South Asia’s largest Approved Training Organisation at Amravati in Maharashtra, targeting 180 commercial pilot graduates annually. The airline is also establishing a Basic Maintenance Training Organisation near its upcoming Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility in Bengaluru.
