iGA Istanbul Airport has signed a landmark strategic cooperation agreement in aviation training with Airbus, the industry’s global pioneer.
The new partnership positions the airport as Airbus’s first direct training partner among airport operators and will strengthen Istanbul’s role as a premier global centre for aviation education and development.
Bridging operational excellence with technical expertise
As part of the dedicated training and development centre, iGA Academy, this collaboration merges Airbus’s deep technical expertise with iGA’s robust on-site learning ecosystem.
Within the agreement, new regional training programs will be delivered at iGA Istanbul Airport, which combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience across one of the world’s busiest operational environments.
The agreement marks a new milestone for Turkish civil aviation and reinforces iGA’s vision for global competency and leadership transformation, which will solidify iGA Academy’s status as a global knowledge production centre.
It was signed this month by Selahattin Bilgen, CEO of iGA Istanbul Airport, and Adam McGonigal, CEO of Airbus Beyond, which has over 30 years of experience in developing aviation talent.
Highlighting the significance of the partnership, Selahattin Bilgen, ceo of IGA Istanbul Airport, said: “Although we’re a global hub, we’ve never really defined ourselves as only ‘transportation infrastructure.’ Our ambition is to be a centre that teaches, evolves and contributes directly to the advancement of the aviation sector.
“iGA Academy is key to this vision, and our agreement with Airbus will create a unique ecosystem where practical theory meets operational reality.
“We’re committed to upskilling our teams so that the future of our industry will be shaped not just by infrastructure, but by stronger human talents.”
Adam McGonigal, ceo of Airbus Beyond, added: “The aerospace industry has always been about connecting people. This partnership with iGA Istanbul Airport focuses precisely on the ‘human connection’ at the heart of learning.
“We’re honoured to sign this game-changing agreement and ensure that the next generation of leaders possess the competencies required to drive our industry forward.”
