Airworks and VietJet Partner for Cadet Pilot Training

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (April 17, 2026) —  In a move set to reshape pilot recruitment in Southeast Asia, Airworks Aviation Academy and Victoria Aviation Academy (the training division of Vietjet Air) have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch an intensive Cadet Pilot Training Program based in the Philippines.

The partnership is a direct response to the urgent demand for skilled aviators fueled by Vietjet’s aggressive global fleet expansion. By combining the technical training expertise of Airworks with Victoria Aviation Academy’s direct link to the airline, the program creates a high-speed "training-to-employment" pipeline specifically for aspiring Vietnamese pilots.

The Powerhouse Partners

Vietjet is one of the leading regional carrier with over 100 modern aircraft and more than 500 on order, including Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737-8 models. Its training division, Victoria Aviation Academy (formerly Vietjet Aviation Academy), is a premier IATA-accredited hub. Established in 2012, it has trained nearly 400,000 professionals. The "Victoria" rebranding signifies its evolution into a global training provider with partnerships spanning Europe, Australia, and now the Philippines.

Airworks Aviation Academy, based at Mactan-Cebu International Airport since 1993, is a top-tier flight school with a fleet of 29 aircraft. It is currently the only academy in the Philippines running airline-backed cadet programs. The academy is already an Approved Training Organization (ATO) recognized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), authorized to conduct Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Instrument Rating (IR), and Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) programs.

Regional Impact

The initiative is backed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA). With additional support from the Provincial Government of Cebu, the program highlights the region’s emergence as a future aviation training hub, driven by infrastructure investment and a pro-business environment. By shifting cadet development to the Philippines, the partnership will boost the local economy through specialized job creation and position Cebu as Southeast Asia’s premier aviation training destination.

The partnership was officially formalized by the senior leadership teams of both institutions. Representing Airworks Aviation Academy were Vincent Charles Ong, President; LtCol Demetrio Ferrer PAF (Ret), Head of Training; Ernesto Panadero Jr., Director for Brand and Growth; and Steve Creus, Consultant.

Joining them from Victoria Aviation Academy (Vietjet) were Tran Huu Quoc, Chief Executive Officer; Le Doan Quang, Vice President; Nguyen Khanh Thanh, Director for Safety and Quality Assurance; Le Nhu Vu Tuan, Chief Flight Instructor; and Nguyen Manh Hang, Director for Business Development. Together, these leaders are set to pioneer a new era of aviation excellence in the region.