India gets 11 new flying training centres as pilot demand continues to rise

India has taken another step towards expanding its domestic pilot training ecosystem, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) completing the tender process for 11 new Flying Training Organisation (FTO) slots across seven airports. The move comes as the country's aviation sector prepares for sustained growth and a sharp rise in demand for trained pilots over the next decade.

According to AAI documents, the latest e-tender process, launched in February 2026, was successfully completed for all identified locations. The technical bids were opened on 30 April 2026, followed by the financial bids on 22 May 2026.

The expansion is expected to strengthen India's domestic pilot training capacity, reduce dependence on overseas flying schools and improve the utilisation of regional airport infrastructure.

Pilot demand continues to outpace training capacity

The latest expansion comes amid projections of significant growth in India's aviation sector. According to estimates by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the country will require more than 30,000 to 31,800 additional pilots over the next decade.

The ministry also expects:

• Indian airlines to induct around 500 additional aircraft over the next five years.
• India's airport network to expand by around 50 airports during the same period.

According to the AAI note cited by The Economic Times, the current pace of domestic pilot training will not be sufficient to meet future industry requirements without further capacity expansion.

As of April 2026, India had:

• 41 DGCA-approved Flying Training Organisations
• Operating across 63 flying bases

New facilities to expand training capacity

The newly allotted FTOs are expected to substantially increase India's training infrastructure in phases.

According to AAI estimates, the facilities will initially add:

• 60 to 70 training aircraft
• Multiple flight simulators and training devices
• Annual training capacity for 400 to 500 aviation professionals, including cadet pilots and technical trainees

Once fully operational, the combined infrastructure is expected to include:

• 110 to 120 training aircraft
• Annual output of around 1,500 aviation professionals
• A core annual output of 700 to 750 cadet pilots and trainees

The additional capacity is also expected to make pilot training more accessible within India while reducing the need for aspiring pilots to pursue training overseas.

Expansion builds on earlier initiatives

The latest allocations add to AAI's ongoing efforts to develop aviation training infrastructure.

According to the report:

• Nine FTO slots were awarded across five airports in 2021.
• Six additional slots were awarded at five airports in 2022.
• The AAI Board also approved the allotment of land at 20 airports on a card-rate basis for 25 years to encourage the establishment of more Flying Training Organisations.

These measures are intended to expand domestic training capacity while encouraging greater use of regional airports for ab initio flying training.

Pilot licence numbers reflect rising interest

India has already witnessed a sharp increase in pilot licensing activity over recent years.

According to the report:

• Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issuances increased from 640 in 2018 to 1,628 in 2024.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also issued 615 CPLs to foreign-trained cadets in a recent year.
• During the same period, 2,309 Student Pilot Licences were issued, indicating growing enrolment in pilot training programmes.

The rising licensing numbers, coupled with airline expansion plans, underline the need for additional domestic training capacity.