Airport Authority Collaborates with World-Renowned European Aviation College for Hong Kong International Aviation Academy

(HONG KONG, 16 December 2016)  –  Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) and world-renowned Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC, or National School of Civil Aviation of France) are collaborating on offering joint programmes for Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (the “Academy”).

Among others, the AA and ENAC will jointly develop a master’s degree programme at the Academy leading to the award of a master degree in air transport management by ENAC.

The Chief Executive has first announced his support to study the feasibility of establishing the Academy in his 2014 Policy Address.  The Academy, set up and managed by the AA, aims to attract and nurture talent for the continuous development of the aviation industry, and to establish Hong Kong as a regional civil aviation training hub.  Located in Toulouse, ENAC is the largest aeronautics and civil aviation college in Europe and is the only university in France dedicated to aviation studies.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today by Vivian Cheung, President of the Academy; and Marc Houalla, President of ENAC, under the witness of C Y Leung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and Eric Berti, Consul General of France in Hong Kong & Macau. The signing ceremony was also attended by Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Secretary for Transport and Housing; Jack So Chak-kwong, Chairman of the AA; and Fred Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the AA.  The AA and ENAC agree in the MOU to jointly develop programmes targeting practitioners from the local aviation industry and from around the region, including the “Belt and Road” countries and regions.

Mr So said, “The AA and ENAC will be offering a number of joint programmes, enhancing Hong Kong’s reputation as a regional civil aviation training hub, and further strengthening the city’s status as an international aviation centre. We look forward to working with ENAC and all our industry and academic partners to create the best training facility for Hong Kong’s aviation industry in the future.”

The Academy will also partner with local educational and vocational training institutions, the AA’s business partners and other organisations to offer a wide range of courses – from summer youth and internship programmes, to on-the-job training for airport employees, professional certificate courses and more advanced programmes. The first batch of courses is expected to be rolled out in April 2017.