Airbus and Air India Open Pilot Training Center in Gurugram
Airbus and Air India have inaugurated a new pilot training center in Gurugram, Haryana, marking a major milestone in India’s growing aviation industry. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to train more than 5,000 pilots over the next decade, addressing the country’s soaring demand for skilled aviators as domestic and international air travel expand rapidly.
The joint venture was officially opened on September 30, 2025, by India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, alongside Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and Airbus CEO of Commercial Aircraft Christian Scherer. The center represents a significant step in Air India’s modernization and expansion strategy as the airline prepares for the delivery of 570 new aircraft in the coming years.
“Air India is in an expansion mode with 570 new aircraft on order, and the new pilot training center at our Aviation Training Academy in Gurugram—partly executed with Airbus—will help train and upskill pilots who will fuel Air India’s ambition of becoming a world-class airline,” said Campbell Wilson, Managing Director and CEO of Air India.
Covering 12,000 square meters, the facility will house 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), along with advanced classrooms and briefing rooms designed for comprehensive training. It will focus on pilot instruction for Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families, providing both theoretical and hands-on experience with the latest simulation technology.
Airbus stated that the Gurugram center will complement its existing training facility in New Delhi, which currently operates four A320-family simulators. Together, the two centers will feature a combined total of 14 FFSs, making India one of Airbus’s largest training hubs in Asia.
Beyond pilot training, Airbus is also collaborating with local partners to establish maintenance training programs to support India’s rapidly expanding commercial fleet. “This is more than a joint venture; it is a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry,” said Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia. “India is a critical base for Airbus, and this facility reflects our confidence in its long-term potential.”
The initiative aligns with India’s national goal of developing a world-class aviation workforce. By equipping young professionals with advanced technical and operational skills, the new Gurugram center will play a key role in sustaining India’s fast-growing aerospace ecosystem for decades to come.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aerotime.aero