SriLankan Airlines takes Service to the Classrooms

The national carrier SriLankan Airlines recently took its award winning service into the classroom, fostering an entirely new array of career opportunities for young adults in the global aviation industry. Opening its doors on June 14, 2006, the International Aviation Academy (IAA) was Sri Lanka’s first ever professional industry skills training facility, with accreditation from leading international bodies including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), City and Guilds and Edexcel International.

A brainchild of the SriLankan Airlines’ Human Resources Division, the IAA will cater to the increasing demand for airline industry specific training and mid-career training by local and international airlines. “The IAA will bridge a long standing void for an internationally acceptable training facility,” said SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Peter Hill. 

The IAA is also in discussions with Sri Lankan Universities to obtain accreditation for its programmes at the Post-graduate Diploma level. “It will supplement Sri Lanka’s technical and vocational education system, opening up new opportunities to the youngsters and give them a grounding in international service standards,” said Head of Human Resources Sunil Dissanayake.

The IAA has also won recognition from other industry apex bodies, with the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) appointing the Academy as a training partner. 

Over 100 SLAITO and TAASL representatives have undergone training with the IAA already.

SriLankan Airlines’ trained personnel have been much sought after by leading international airlines, with a number of Sri Lankans now manning top posts in the airline and hospitality industry. “A number of international organisations are already talking to us to send their staff for training and to recruit candidates who obtain IAA qualifications. This is a major boost for the industry and for the country,” Dissanayake said.

Based at the company's Administration Complex at Katunayake, the IAA will train students in a range of airline specific programmes including Airline Ticketing and Sales, Cabin Crew Training, Air Cargo Skills and Procedures, Flight Dispatch Programmes and Airline management among others. Courses range from three day refresher programmes to full 16 week modules and cater both to existing airline staff in addition to young adults looking for an entry into the airline industry. All programmes have an on the job component, which exposes participants to real life situations and a platform to test their classroom learning.

Students must also satisfy minimum entry qualifications, which include placement tests and interviews.

The IAA faculty are all trained professionals with vast experience in the industry in their specific fields of specialization. The faculty also retains over 20 visiting facilitators both from Sri Lanka and abroad, and will launch an e-learning wing towards the year end.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, SriLankan Airlines