New partnership gives aspiring pilots the opportunity to earn an EASA professional pilot license alongside an accredited Atlântica bachelor's degree, with the first joint intakes planned for May and September 2027.

Oeiras, Portugal, September 30, 2026. Intercontinental Aviation Academy Portugal (FlyIAA Portugal), the European flagship of Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise (IAE), and Universidade Atlântica have signed a strategic and commercial agreement to establish an integrated pathway combining professional pilot training with university education in Portugal.

The agreement was signed on 28 September 2026 in Barcarena, Oeiras, by Dr. Natália do Espírito Santo, General Manager of Universidade Atlântica, and Frederico Fernandes, CEO of FlyIAA Global, in the presence of Prof. Dr. Manuel Freitas, Dean of Universidade Atlântica, and Capt. Wissam Al Mehyou, Founder and Chairman of FlyIAA Global.

A Pilot Licence and a University Degree

The partnership brings together two complementary areas of education: professional aviation training and higher education. Through the new pathway, students will have the opportunity to work towards an EASA ATPL (frozen) through FlyIAA's approved training organization while completing an accredited bachelor's degree at Universidade Atlântica.

Students will be able to pursue degree programs in Air Transport Management or Aeronautical Engineering, creating an academic foundation that complements their professional pilot training and prepares them for a broader range of opportunities across the aviation industry.

Open to Students Across the FlyIAA Network

The pathway is open to students across the FlyIAA global network. From October 2026, existing and new FlyIAA students will have the opportunity to enroll in eligible Atlântica degree courses, allowing students already progressing through their pilot training to begin their academic studies alongside their aviation education.

Students currently enrolled at FlyIAA will also have the opportunity to complete one or two Atlântica curricular units per semester alongside their ATPL theory studies, with completed credits contributing towards the relevant degree following formal enrolment.

First Joint Intakes in 2027

The first dedicated joint intakes are planned for May and September 2027, combining the early stages of professional pilot training with the first year of university studies. The integrated pathway will subsequently progress through ATPL theory, flight training and the remaining academic requirements, with students working towards both professional aviation and academic qualifications.

Under the agreement, Universidade Atlântica will retain responsibility for academic accreditation and the awarding of the university degree, while FlyIAA Portugal will remain responsible for pilot training, training approvals and examination release in accordance with applicable EASA Part-FCL and ANAC requirements.

The partnership will also support a joint international recruitment campaign beginning in October 2026, targeting aspiring aviation professionals and families across FlyIAA's growing international markets.

What the Partners Said

"Our university partnerships in Lebanon and Iraq have shown that when ground school and academia work side by side, students stay motivated and graduate better prepared. Bringing this model to Portugal, with a partner of Atlântica's standing, gives our European flagship a clear advantage, gives airlines pilots with a broader foundation, and gives our cadets better choices for the future."

Capt. Wissam Al Mehyou, Founder and Chairman, FlyIAA Global

"Families, and often students themselves, worry about the choices they make, and a dual pathway combining a pilot license with a university degree is in demand across all our bases. Our students can now choose between aviation management and aeronautical engineering at one of Europe's leading universities, in a program designed for international students, and in an exceptional place to live and study: Oeiras, Portugal. The industry is changing, and so are our students' expectations. We must keep pace and deliver, and we are very proud to do so with Atlântica."

Frederico Fernandes, CEO, FlyIAA Global

"Aviation needs professionals who can fly and who can think, lead and manage. This partnership brings Atlântica's academic tradition together with IAA's training excellence, so our students leave with a degree and a licence, not a choice between them. It also reinforces Oeiras as a destination for international students and for the aviation sector."

Dr. Natália do Espírito Santo, General Manager, Universidade Atlântica

Building FlyIAA's European Training Network

The partnership marks another step in FlyIAA's continued development of its European training network and its broader commitment to creating internationally connected pathways for aspiring aviation professionals.

Through its growing network of academies and training operations, FlyIAA continues to expand access to professional pilot training while developing partnerships with airlines, universities and aviation organizations to support students throughout their journey from training to career.