New Delhi, August 1: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has successfully finalized the tender process to set up 11 new Flying Training Organisation (FTO) slots across seven regional airports. Launched under an e-tender round in February 2026, the selection process concluded with financial bids opened in May 2026, securing full operational coverage for all identified sites. The expansion aims to address an anticipated deficit in commercial aviators, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation projecting a requirement of 30,000 to 31,800 additional pilots over the next decade.
The new facilities will initially introduce 60 to 70 training aircraft, scaling up to a total fleet of 110 to 120 aircraft alongside advanced simulator systems. Early projections suggest an initial annual output of 400 to 500 aviation professionals, expanding to nearly 1,500 trainees per year at full maturity. Highlighting the necessity for rapid domestic development, official AAI notes maintained that expanding local infrastructure remains essential to sustain fleet growth, as Indian carriers prepare to induct approximately 500 aircraft over the next five years.
“In 2021, nine FTO slots were awarded at five airports and in 2022, six more slots were awarded at 5 airports. In addition, the AAI Board had approved allotment of land on a card rate basis for 25 years at 20 airports to encourage FTO development,” official documentation affirmed while outlining previous policy initiatives aimed at building local training capacity.
This infrastructural push builds upon steady growth in domestic licensing, where Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issuances rose from 640 in 2018 to 1,628 in 2024. By utilizing regional airfields for ab-initio flying programs, aviation authorities intend to retain educational expenditure within the country, reduce dependency on foreign institutions, and improve overall regional airport utility.
