Airbus is responding to the forecasted demand for an additional 2.3 million trained workers in the airline services sector over the next 20 years by constructing a new aviation training campus. According to the latest Airbus Global Services forecast, this expansion will support airlines' crew training needs, aid in the introduction of new Airbus aircraft into their fleets and uphold quality and occupational safety standards within the aviation industry.
The new training and flight operations campus in Toulouse-Blagnac is set to open in 2026, welcoming its first trainee pilots, mechanics and structure specialists. The architecturally innovative facility will enrol around 10,000 trainees annually, with space for up to 12 full-flight simulators (FFS) and 12 Airbus procedure trainers. The campus will also feature structure labs, numerous training rooms, including those equipped for virtual reality (VR) and computer-based training. Additionally, new office space will be created for approximately 600 Airbus employees.
This will be the largest of Airbus' 15 global pilot training centres and the only one of its kind in Europe. Airbus currently operates 43 full-flight simulators worldwide, with six FFS of all Airbus-family aircraft available in Toulouse. The new facility will see an existing A330 FFS replaced by a new A330neo FFS, alongside an additional A350 FFS, increasing the total number to seven.
The new campus will co-locate all Airbus Training Services in France, along with teams from Flight Operations and NAVBLUE, Airbus' flight operations solutions subsidiary. This collaboration will enhance synergies between experts, fostering enriched exchanges for customers and employees alike. The centre will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
