All Nippon Airways has chosen Airbus for a new flight-training programme that will take ANA Group cadets and trainees from partner carriers through ab-initio instruction to pilot licensure at Sevenair Academy in Ponte de Sor, Portugal. The first cohort will comprise 19 cadets, with training due to start later in 2026, extending a relationship between the two companies that has spanned nearly four decades.
The agreement gives ANA access to Airbus’ latest training offering and aligns the airline group’s cadet pipeline with Airbus’ competency-based training and assessment model. Airbus will run the programme for candidates with no prior flying experience, covering the full path to licence qualification under a standardised curriculum.
The deal also broadens Airbus’ role beyond aircraft supply into aviation services at a time when pilot recruitment remains a structural issue for the industry. Airbus has pointed to long-term demand for commercial pilots, including strong requirements in Asia-Pacific, where airlines are continuing to expand fleets and training capacity. Commercial terms and the programme’s full duration were not disclosed in the available material.