Airbus has announced plans to construct a new Training and Flight Operations Campus in Toulouse-Blagnac, addressing the expected demand for 2.3 million additional trained workers in the airline services sector by 2043. This expansion is part of Airbus’ strategy to enhance its global training capacity, supporting airlines in preparing crews for new Airbus aircraft and future fleet growth.
Set to open in 2026, the new campus will feature advanced training infrastructure, including space for up to 12 Full Flight Simulators (FFS), 12 Airbus Procedure Trainers, structure labs, and dedicated areas for Virtual Reality (VR) and computer-based training. It will accommodate 10,000 trainees annually, offering comprehensive programs for pilots, mechanics, and structure specialists. Additionally, the facility will house 600 Airbus employees, consolidating all Airbus Training Services activities in France, along with the team from NAVBLUE, Airbus’ flight operations subsidiary.
This training center will become Airbus’s largest pilot training hub globally and the only one in Europe. The existing A330 Full Flight Simulator will be upgraded to an A330neo model, with an additional A350 simulator planned, bringing the total number of FFS to seven upon the campus opening.
24/7 global training hub
Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Toulouse campus will enhance Airbus’ worldwide training offerings at its 22 sites across five continents. «This setup will embed our attractive aviation personnel training offer into a state-of-the-art facility, creating for our European customers a modern, unique, and immersive learning experience,» said Maia Kuilenberg, Head of Airbus Training Services.
Construction is set to begin in October 2024, designed by the architectural firms Kardham and Rodrigo Ferrer, with French construction company GIE-Burothèque overseeing the build.
