Flydubai is expanding its future pilot training programme through new partnership agreements with two aviation training centres as it prepares to grow its fleet.

The partnerships, announced on September 18, involve Egnatia Aviation and Skyborne Airline Academy and will cover the first cohorts of flydubai’s Ab Initio Pilot Training Programme.

Launched in May 2025, the programme provides candidates with a structured training pathway to prepare them to serve as first officers in flydubai’s fleet after completing specialised courses.

The two academies will provide flight training up to the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence stage, after which the trainees will progress to flydubai’s operational training.

Fleet expansion backed by orders for more than 300 aircraft

Flydubai currently operates nearly 100 Boeing 737 aircraft across a network of more than 125 destinations and has more than 300 additional aircraft on order.

The airline plans to add a further 11 Boeing 737 aircraft to its fleet by the end of 2026. Deliveries of 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners are also scheduled to begin in early 2028.

Training candidates aged 17 to 28

Flydubai’s Ab Initio Pilot Training Programme includes ground-school theory, simulator training, practical flight instruction and subsequent training on the airline’s operational routes.

Candidates aged between 17 and 28 have been shortlisted for the programme’s first intake. They include Emirati, Australian, Brazilian, Canadian, German, Indian, Kenyan and British nationals.

In addition to training at the two partner academies, trainees will use flydubai’s dedicated training facilities in Dubai.

The airline operates a 38,000-square-foot flight training centre, equivalent to about 3,530 square metres, equipped with four full-flight Boeing 737 simulators.

The facilities will enable trainees to prepare to operate the aircraft used across flydubai’s network after completing their initial training.

Egnatia Aviation offers a range of training courses, from private pilot licences to advanced professional qualifications. Its programmes are approved by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Skyborne Airline Academy is also approved by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and provides commercial pilot training designed to prepare students for airline careers.

Flydubai’s growing demand for new pilots

Flydubai currently employs 7,000 people representing 144 nationalities, including more than 1,520 qualified pilots.

The airline is continuing to recruit new employees as it prepares to take delivery of additional aircraft and expand its route network.