Dholera Airport has moved back into the spotlight. On 5 August 2026, Flywings Simulator Training Centre Limited (NSE: FWSTC) received a Letter of Intent (LOI) from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to establish a Flying Training Organisation (FTO) at the upcoming Gujarat facility.
The development, made public on 11 August 2026, is a meaningful step for both the company and India’s pilot training pipeline.
Dholera Airport LOI: What Flywings Announced
The LOI covers the establishment of an FTO at Dholera Airport, subject to the terms specified in the letter, execution of the requisite agreements, and applicable regulatory approvals.
In other words, this is an intent — not a completed deal. Definitive agreements and DGCA processes still stand between the announcement and the first training flight.
Managing Director & CFO Rupal Sanjay Mandavia called the LOI an important milestone, noting that Dholera is emerging as a significant aviation and infrastructure destination.
Why Dholera Airport Matters for Pilot Training
Flying schools need three things: uncongested airspace, predictable weather, and runway slots that aren’t competing with commercial traffic. A greenfield field offers all three.
Dholera Airport sits inside the Dholera Special Investment Region, well away from the congestion around Ahmedabad. That combination is rare in India, where most FTOs jostle for capacity at busy regional airports.
The demand side is equally relevant. With large aircraft orders on Indian carriers’ books, the need for trained commercial pilots continues to outpace domestic training output, pushing many cadets abroad.
Dholera Airport Construction Status: 80% Complete
In July 2026, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu confirmed that roughly 80% of construction at Dholera Airport is complete.
The runway, taxiway and Air Traffic Control tower are fully finished, while the passenger terminal is about 75% done. Officials are targeting commercial operations by September or October 2026, subject to licensing, navigation calibration and trial flights.
The completed facility will include a 25,000 sq m terminal designed for roughly 20 lakh passengers annually, plus a 2,500 sq m dedicated cargo terminal.
What a Flying Training Organisation Actually Does
An FTO is a DGCA-approved school that takes cadets from zero flying hours through to a Commercial Pilot Licence.
It runs ground school, maintains a training fleet, and logs the flying hours candidates need for licensing. Flywings already operates in simulator-based training, so an FTO would extend its capability into live flying.
Beyond Dholera Airport: GIFT City and Maharashtra Plans
The same announcement carried two further approvals. The board cleared a proposed presence in IFSC GIFT City, Gujarat, to explore aircraft and simulator leasing alongside allied aviation businesses.
Flywings also approved a Maharashtra expansion, comprising a new training facility at Taloja and a sales and marketing office in Andheri, Mumbai.
Flywings FY26 Financial Snapshot
For FY26, revenue from operations rose 21.3% year-on-year to Rs 24.51 crore. Operating margin stood at 64.6%, while net profit increased 8% year-on-year.
Those margins reflect the economics of simulator training, where utilisation drives profitability once the equipment is installed and certified.
What Happens Next at Dholera Airport
Three milestones are worth tracking: signed agreements with AAI, DGCA approval for the FTO, and the airport’s own commercial launch.
Until the airport is licensed and operational, the Dholera Airport FTO remains a plan on paper — a credible one, backed by a listed operator, but still a plan.
FAQs About the Dholera Airport FTO
Not yet. AAI has issued a Letter of Intent. Definitive agreements and regulatory approvals are still pending.
The LOI is dated 5 August 2026 and was announced publicly on 11 August 2026.
The government is targeting September or October 2026, subject to construction completion and regulatory clearances.
In the Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat, connected to Ahmedabad by a six-lane national highway.
Flywings Simulator Training Centre Limited provides aviation training and allied services, and is listed on the NSE.
