Iberia Maintenance have welcomed more than 130 Vocational Training students who will carry out their internships at its La Muñoza facilities, next to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, over the coming months. This figure represents a 50% increase compared to last year and reflects the company’s commitment to vocational training as a way to attract young talent to highly specialized technical disciplines in a sector where demand for professionals continues to grow. Of these, 40 students come from the Intensive Dual Training modality, which grows year after year.
The students come from intermediate and advanced vocational degrees, professional certificates, and EASA 147 basic training centres approved by AESA. Among the main partner centres are CIFP Profesor Raúl Vázquez, IES Barajas, IES La Paloma, CFELYA Leganés, ALEF Getafe, Aviation Group, and Fidamc.
Specialties include aeromechanics, avionics, aircraft structure assembly, machining, mechatronics, and electromechanics. Professional certificates cover composite materials, aircraft painting, and aircraft inspection, as well as basic 147 training in categories B1.1 and B2.
“At Iberia, we are committed to Vocational Training because we know it is key to the future of aviation. Since 2018, when we signed an agreement with the Community of Madrid, we have worked alongside educational centres to facilitate internships at our facilities. This year we reached a record with more than 130 students, which reflects our commitment to young talent and to technical profiles essential for keeping our aircraft in the air,” said María Bello, Iberia’s Director of People and Talent. “These internships allow students to apply their knowledge to real projects and learn about technologies that are transforming the sector, such as process digitalization and augmented reality for inspections. They are the first step toward a solid career in an exciting and constantly evolving industry,” Bello added.
Since 2018, more than 600 students have completed internships at Iberia Maintenance, and 60% have subsequently joined the company, making these programs a direct gateway to employment in a growing sector.
Shortage of Skilled Profiles: A Global Challenge for Aviation
One of the most pressing challenges facing aviation, and particularly aircraft maintenance, is the shortage of skilled professionals in key areas. According to the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), around 402,000 aircraft maintenance technicians will be needed worldwide over the next ten years, including 75,000 in commercial aviation and 10,000 in private aviation in Europe.
This growing demand underscores the importance of strengthening vocational training and offering real employment opportunities. At Iberia Maintenance, 80% of the workforce are aircraft maintenance technicians, demonstrating the essential role of these professionals and the need to attract young talent to ensure generational renewal, which is already underway.
To address this growing demand for aircraft maintenance technicians, Iberia Maintenance has launched a pioneering bridging course to attract professionals from other branches of the vehicle maintenance family and facilitate their entry into the aviation sector. This initiative, open to profiles with technical training in automotive, rail, or industrial fields, offers specific training in aircraft engine maintenance, one of the most critical and specialized areas of the business. The goal is twofold: to expand the available talent pool and ensure generational renewal in a sector where safety and technical excellence are essential.
Specialized Training to Guarantee Technical Excellence
Iberia Maintenance’s training centre, with more than 20 years of experience as an EASA 147-approved centre by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), provides type training to professionals with Aircraft Maintenance Licenses in the Mechanical (B1.1) and Avionics (B2) categories. This certification is essential to certify an aircraft after an intervention and ensure its return to service with the highest safety standards.
Iberia Maintenance is the only centre in Spain authorized to provide type training for the Airbus A320 and A350 families, as well as the A330. Since its approval in 2004, more than 10,000 students have received EASA 147 training at these facilities, which have 18 specialized instructors.
In addition, the centre delivers and coordinates technical training in engines, aircraft, and components for both Iberia and external customers, with a team of more than 50 instructors and content developers. In 2024 alone, more than 150,000 student-hours of training were delivered, consolidating Iberia Maintenance as a benchmark in technical aviation training.
