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Wizz Air Launches Pilot Academy In Cyprus, Pioneering A New Path For Aspiring Aviators

Wizz Air has unveiled its latest initiative in Cyprus with the launch of the Wizz Air Pilot Academy. This strategic programme establishes a direct, airline-affiliated route for emerging pilots, offering structured, cost-effective training designed to deliver qualified First Officers in roughly two years.

Connecting Training with Operational Excellence

The Wizz Air Pilot Academy integrates rigorous pilot training with the airline’s established operational framework. Trainees begin their journey at partner flight school Wizz Air‘s facility, Trener Kft in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, before advancing to specialized corporate training at one of the airline’s bases. The programme’s seamless connection to Wizz Air operations ensures that participants receive continuous supervision and hands-on experience throughout their training.

Accessible Entry and Clear Career Trajectory

Targeted at candidates aged 18 and above with a high school diploma, a strong command of English, and proficiency in mathematics and physics, the academy offers a compelling opportunity to build a robust aviation career. The programme’s financial model is designed to ease the initial cost burden; candidates pay a modest upfront fee with the balance recouped through salary deductions over five years once employed by Wizz Air.

Engagement Events and Localized Opportunities

To mark the launch, Wizz Air is hosting an Open Day on January 25 at the Sunhall Hotel in Larnaca from 16:00 to 20:00. This event will provide prospective candidates and their families with direct access to Wizz Air representatives, detailed guidance on the application process, and an in-depth look at the programme requirements. Future open days are planned to ensure ample opportunities for interested applicants.

Commitment to Building a Sustainable Aviation Pipeline

Corporate Communication Manager Olivia Harangozo emphasized that Cyprus is home to an ambitious pool of talent. By offering localized, airline-led training, Wizz Air is investing significantly in the future of the region’s aviation industry. With over 185 pilots trained since its inception in 2017 and more than 90 candidates currently enrolled, the academy has rapidly become a cornerstone of Wizz Air’s long-term strategy to nurture future talent and ensure a sustainable pilot pipeline.

With its pioneering approach and commitment to excellence, the Wizz Air Pilot Academy represents a transformative step in aviation training, reinforcing Wizz Air’s position as a leader in the industry and a forward-thinking driver of career development.

EU Services Production Grows As Information And Communication Lead

Services production continued to expand across the European Union in August 2026, with information and communication recording the strongest annual growth. However, performance varied significantly between industries and member states, while Cyprus reported a mixed picture, with business services expanding and hospitality-related activities declining.

Information And Communication Leads Sector Growth

Compared with August 2025, services production increased by 5.9% in the euro area and 5.8% across the EU in information and communication. Transportation and storage also recorded growth, rising by 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively.

Real estate activities increased by 1.6% in the euro area and 1.1% in the EU. Professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 1% in both areas, while administrative and support services advanced by 1.1% and 1.3%.

Accommodation and food services was the only major sector to record an annual decline, falling by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU.

The monthly figures were more mixed. Information and communication remained the strongest performer, increasing by 1.2% in the euro area and 1% across the EU. Real estate activities rose by 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively, while transportation and storage edged up 0.1% in the euro area but declined by 0.2% in the EU.

Administrative and support services recorded modest gains of 0.2% in the euro area and 0.1% in the EU. Accommodation and food services fell by 0.3% and 0.4%, while professional, scientific and technical activities declined by 0.8% and 0.9%, respectively.

Slovakia And Greece Record Strongest Annual Growth

Romania recorded the largest monthly increase in services production, at 5.2%, followed by Malta at 1.8% and Portugal at 1.7%. Luxembourg experienced the steepest decline, with output falling by 5.1%, followed by Bulgaria at 2.3% and Denmark at 1.9%.

On an annual basis, Slovakia led with growth of 10%, followed by Greece at 9.3% and Malta at 7.5%. Hungary recorded the weakest performance, with services production declining by 5.6%. Denmark fell by 5.3%, while Italy recorded a smaller decrease of 0.3%.

Cyprus Sees Growth In Business Services But Weakness In Hospitality

Cyprus’ latest figures show a similar divide between expanding business services and weaker hospitality-related activities. According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat), professional, scientific and technical activities recorded the strongest annual growth among the covered sectors in the second quarter of 2026, increasing by 3.4%.

Transportation and storage and information and communication both grew by 2.1%, while real estate activities rose by 1.6%. In contrast, accommodation and food services declined by 3.1% year on year, and administrative and support services fell by 2.2%.

First-half results were more favourable for several sectors. Between January and June, professional, scientific and technical activities grew by 3.5%, transportation and storage by 2.8%, real estate by 2.1% and information and communication by 1.3%.

Nevertheless, administrative and support services contracted by 1% over the six-month period, while accommodation and food services declined by 0.7%.

How Cyprus’ Figures Differ From Eurostat’s Data

The Eurostat and Cystat figures measure different aspects of economic activity and are not directly comparable. Eurostat’s services production index tracks changes in the volume of output, whereas Cystat’s Turnover Value Index for Services and Transport measures the value of sales at current prices.

The reporting periods also differ: Eurostat’s figures cover August, while the cited Cypriot data relate to the second quarter and first half of 2026.

Cystat transmits services production data to Eurostat but does not yet publish a separate national production index. Turnover figures therefore remain the main publicly available national indicator for the sector.

Taken together, the data point to continued growth in several of Cyprus’ business-oriented services, alongside persistent pressure on accommodation, food and administrative support activities.

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