Credit: Luxair
On Friday 10 July 2026, Luxair announced that it had invested €12 million in pilot training through its Ab Initio programme and targeted sponsorships, aimed primarily at candidates from Luxembourg and the Greater Region.
According to the airline, the investment combines the Ab Initio pathway, which allows candidates with no previous aviation experience to begin training, with sponsorships for selected pilot students who have already started working towards a professional European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) licence.
Through the Ab Initio programme, candidates can be selected directly after completing secondary education and do not require previous flight experience or operational flying hours. Cadets receive theoretical instruction, simulator training and practical flight experience, with a focus on flying skills, safety procedures and operational scenarios.
The sponsorship programme complements the Ab Initio pathway and is intended for selected pilot students already enrolled at flight schools approved by Luxair. It enables the airline to support promising future pilots who have already committed to a career in aviation.
Luxair currently works with BAA Training in Spain and RWL German Flight Academy in Germany, selected for their training quality, operational stability and standardised approach. According to the airline, these partnerships allow it to monitor cadets throughout their training and prepare them for future flight operations with Luxair.
"Training pilots ourselves is a strategic investment in people, safety and the future of Luxair," said Gilles Feith, CEO of Luxair. He added: "Through Ab Initio training and carefully selected sponsorships, we are creating concrete opportunities for motivated young people, especially in Luxembourg and the Greater Region, while securing the skills we need to continue serving the country with reliability, quality and responsibility."
According to Luxair, the airline has recruited more than 130 pilots over the past six years through three complementary channels: the Ab Initio programme, targeted sponsorships for selected pilot students and direct recruitment from the wider European and international professional pilot market.
Only seven of those pilots, representing less than 5%, had completed their initial training with a Luxembourg-based flight training organisation. The airline said these figures demonstrate that its pilot recruitment is not dependent on local flight schools, while remaining open to candidates from all backgrounds who meet its standards.
"By working with stable and standardised European training partners, and by following cadets and sponsored students closely throughout their training, we ensure that future pilots enter Luxair with the right technical foundations, safety mindset and operational maturity," said Daniel Colling, Accountable Manager at Luxair.
Luxair stated that it will continue to develop its Ab Initio pathway as part of its long-term commitment to safe and reliable air transport from Luxembourg. The airline added that it will continue to focus on candidates from Luxembourg and the Greater Region, with the objective of making aviation careers more accessible to local talent while maintaining its selection, training and safety standards.
