This year marked a defining moment for Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise (IAE) and Intercontinental Aviation Academy (FlyIAA), as a solid global aviation conglomerate stepped forward stronger and more unified than ever.
It was an honour to welcome His Royal Highness Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi on the opening day, where together we kicked off an airshow that reshaped our direction and accelerated our global expansion.
Across five intense days, we announced multiple milestones, signed key agreements, and opened new chapters for our group — and yet, we still held back several major developments.
The excitement continues: the weeks ahead will reveal even more, including new airline partnerships and strategic expansions that will take our journey to the next level.
Throughout the Airshow, we also held highly positive discussions with several high-profile leaders in the UAE, including senior figures from the GCAA. Their feedback highlighted the exceptional work we are doing both within the Emirates and across our global network, reinforcing the growing trust in IAE and FlyIAA as a UAE-headquartered aviation group. These dialogues further validated our strategic direction and emphasized the importance of our expanding role in shaping the future of aviation training from the heart of the UAE.
Key Milestones Announced at Dubai Airshow 2025
FlyIAA and Cyprus Airways Flying Academy (CAFA) officially united under a strategic shareholding exchange agreement, marking one of the most important milestones of the airshow. Through this merger, Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise (IAE) becomes a shareholder in CAFA, enabling a full-scale expansion of our Cyprus base with additional aircraft, new training programs, and enhanced infrastructure. The partnership also strengthens our ties with Cyprus Airways, bringing more airline collaborations into the region. This step fully integrates Cyprus into the FlyIAA Global network and positions the academy to grow into one of the most advanced aviation training hubs in Europe.
We officially introduced the Aviator Fund, the first fund of its kind dedicated to aviation training, fleet development, and next-generation aviation services.
This marks the beginning of a new investment era for our group and for the future of aviation training worldwide.
FlyIAA signed an agreement for 10 brand-new Diamond training aircraft, supporting our global expansion and next-generation fleet strategy.
FlyIAA UAE is expanding operations within the Emirates through a strategic MoU with Emirates Falcon Aviation Group, establishing a full secondary base at Al Ain Airstrip in Abu Dhabi.
Operations are scheduled to begin in February 2026 with our brand-new modern Diamond fleet.
These aircraft will boost capacity across multiple bases and elevate our training capabilities.
We announced a major strategic investment in Portugal, launching a new academy in Ponte de Sor, with an investment scope reaching €4 million.
This includes, A long-term concession, A hangar and maintenance infrastructure, Immediate integration into our European training network.
FlyIAA Greece will also witness a significant strengthening of its operations, as we expand our fleet and invest in new infrastructure to support long-term growth in the region. The development plan includes additional aircraft entering service, the establishment of a dedicated training facility, and the creation of a maintenance hangar to support our European network. This enhanced capability positions Greece as a key strategic pillar for IAA in Eastern Europe, enabling higher training capacity, stronger regional presence, and seamless integration with our expanding global system.
We announced a groundbreaking partnership with Flyou to introduce an advanced student wellness and performance monitoring system — a first-in-the-region approach to enhancing pilot well-being, performance, and safety outcomes.
On a side note, We were proud to see strong female representation with us throughout the Dubai Airshow, reaffirming our commitment to supporting women in aviation middle east and empowering their growth within the industry. At FlyIAA, we continue to open doors through specialized programs, mentorship opportunities, and career pathways designed to help women advance as pilots, engineers, and aviation leaders — ensuring they have every opportunity to excel and shape the future of this industry.
And This Is Only the Beginning…
Although we announced some of the most important milestones in our history, we have intentionally held back several major developments.
The weeks following the Dubai Airshow will reveal even bigger announcements — including new airline partnerships that will reshape the future of FlyIAA and our global network.
2025 is the year our vision becomes reality.
2026 will be the year we take flight to places no academy has ever reached.
Stay tuned — the best is still ahead.
Wissam Al Mehyou
CEO Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise
Global Chairman FlyIAA
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