Emirates Flight Training Academy orders 27 aircraft

Order valued at more than $39 million at list prices

5 November 2015

Dubai: Emirates Flight Training Academy, developed by Emirates airline, said Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with Cirrus Aircraft and Embraer to order 27 new aircraft.

The order includes 22 single-piston engine Cirrus SR22s and 5 twin-jet Embraer Phenom 100E, which are valued at more than $39 million at list prices.

The aircraft will be delivered starting in 2017, Emirates said in a statement. They will be used by cadet pilots for training to become fully-qualified commercial pilots for Emirates. This means that the pilots will have all their training in Dubai for the first time. Previously, the pilots underwent a majority of their training at a variety of locations overseas.

“Industry forecasts show growth in the need of pilots particularly over the next few years. The Middle East and the Gulf region will have the highest demand for pilots to support its expansion and introduction of new aircraft. The Emirates Flight Training Academy is our investment and response to this pressing need,” stated Adel Al Redha, Emirates executive vice president and chief operations officer.

The Emirates Flight Training Academy will initially focus on Emirates’ existing cadet pilot programme for UAE nationals, and aim to expand intake to other candidates in the future.

Emirates pushes back start date to Mali capital

Emirates has pushed back the launch of flights to Mali’s capital, Bamako, for “operational reasons,” the airline told Gulf News on Wednesday.

The four times weekly services via Senegal capital, Dakar, was scheduled to commence on October 25. It would have been Emirates’ 28th destination in Africa. The new route “has been deferred until further notice due to operational reasons,” Emirates said by email, adding that the existing Dubai-Dakar service continues to operate as normal.

Passengers booked on the Dakar service will be reimbursed or rebooked via Casablanca in Morocco.

The Bamako-Casablanca leg is operated by Royal Air Maroc with Emirates flying between Dubai and Casablanca.