NEW DELHI: State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) today said it has decided to collaborate with the global airlines body, International Air Transport Association (IATA) to address the training needs of its staffers.

AAI in this regard signed a memorandum of understanding with IATA yesterday.

Being the largest airport operator in the country, there is need to hone further the skills of its vast pool of aviation professional by way of regular training, AAI Chairman R K Srivastava, in whose presence Anuj Aggarwal (AAI Member-HR) and Victor de Barenna Director of IATA signed the MoU, said.

India is emerging as an important player -- both as a growth market for international aviation and also a key player in the community of key global aviation powers, Srivastava said, adding the domestic aviation growth can be orchestrated into a larger opportunity for the country, according to an AAI release.

"So, there is a need to address the training needs of AAI officials and to invest in creating and expanding its pool of airport and air navigation services professionals who are well versed with critical global aviation issues such as operations, safety, laws, economics and climate change, among others," he said.

With the increase in air traffic, the airport and air space infrastructure capacity has increased manifold and this requires a constant upgraded training to these officials, he said.

AAI has 18,200 staffers on its roll and 125 airports under its management.