Air India has received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to establish its flying academy at Belora Airport in Amravati, Maharashtra. The initiative marks a step towards expanding India’s pilot training capacity and developing skilled aviation professionals to support the sector’s growing requirements.
The Air India Flying Academy will be the first flying academy established by an Indian airline in the country. It will operate a fleet of 31 single-engine and three twin-engine aircraft for pilot training, providing aspiring pilots with structured training opportunities and access to modern aviation infrastructure.
Spread across 10 acres, the academy will feature digitally enabled classrooms, student accommodation, a digital operations centre and a dedicated aircraft maintenance facility. The infrastructure is designed to support comprehensive pilot training while maintaining standards of safety and operational excellence, according to the airline.
The academy forms part of Air India’s wider investment in aviation training and talent development in India. The airline has also established a 600,000-square-foot training academy in Gurugram, which it describes as the largest aviation training institution in South Asia. Together, these investments are aimed at strengthening the aviation talent pipeline as the country’s airline industry expands.
In a separate development, Air India and Air India Express have extended the suspension of flights to and from Saudi Arabia until November 14, 2026, citing the prevailing situation in the region. Services connecting Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam will remain suspended until the revised date, inclusive. The airlines had previously suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam until November 7, while Jeddah services were cancelled until October 31.
Passengers holding confirmed bookings issued on or before October 30 for travel up to November 14 can opt for a one-time complimentary rebooking, subject to availability, for travel up to November 29. Alternatively, they can cancel their bookings and receive a full refund. Air India passengers can rebook to or from any operational Air India station in Saudi Arabia, while Air India Express passengers can use the airline’s operational stations in the country, subject to applicable arrangements.