EASA ATPL in Spain
ATPL theory exams and training in Spain
Spain is one of the busiest EASA training countries: sunny flying weather, a cluster of large integrated schools, and ATPL theory exams sat in English draw international students from across Europe. The exams are run by the state safety agency AESA, with the logistics handled by SENASA.
AESA
Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea
13 EASA papers
Sat under EASA Part-FCL
English
For ATPL theory papers
~€72k-€130k
Indicative, varies by school
The national aviation authority: AESA
AESA (Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea, the State Aviation Safety Agency), part of Spain's Ministry of Transport, is the EASA competent authority for flight-crew licensing. It issues the licence and owns the exam rules, but delegates the day-to-day running of the theory sittings (registration, venues and results) to SENASA, a state-owned technical-support company. So in practice you register through your ATO into the AESA and SENASA system and sit AESA's papers.
How the ATPL theory exams work
The 13 ATPL theory papers are computer-based multiple choice, drawn from EASA's European Central Question Bank, with a 75% pass mark per paper. You must sit and pass all subjects within an 18-month window from your first attempt, and the theory pass is valid for seven years toward licence issue. ATPL, CPL and IR exams are administered in English only (Spanish is available for PPL-level exams). AESA's own 2026 fee schedule sets the theory-exam fee at €77.79 per subject.
Exam fees and procedures are set by the authority and change over time. Amounts quoted here reflect published fee schedules as of July 2026; confirm the current fee with AESA before booking a sitting.
Where you sit the exams
AESA and SENASA run standing exam venues in Madrid (Avenida de la Hispanidad) and Barcelona (El Prat de Llobregat). AESA also authorises some approved schools as satellite exam centres: One Air in Málaga, for example, has been an official AESA exam centre since 2020, so its students can sit the ATPL papers on-site rather than travelling to Madrid or Barcelona.
What ATPL training costs in Spain
~€72,000 to ~€130,000
Integrated ATPL programmes in Spain are commonly quoted between roughly €72,000 and €130,000, depending heavily on the school and how much is bundled in. Quality Fly lists around €71,750 to €79,650, Panamedia around €75,400, and FTEJerez's full-board Airline First Officer Programme around €129,500. No government body publishes school tuition, so treat these as school-quoted figures.
Figures are indicative, quoted by the schools named below or by third-party aggregators, and change often. Confirm current pricing directly with the training organisation.
Notable ATOs in Spain
A few of the EASA-approved training organisations that run ATPL theory or integrated programmes here. SkyStudy is not affiliated with any of them; the links go to each school’s own website so you can check current programmes and pricing yourself.
FTEJerez (Flight Training Europe)
JerezEASA- and UK CAA-approved school in Jerez de la Frontera running the Airline First Officer Programme, with airline partnerships spanning Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, Jet2, Iberia and Aer Lingus.
Visit websiteOne Air
MálagaMálaga-based ATO that has been an official AESA exam centre (E-ATO 190) since 2020, so students can sit the ATPL theory papers on-site.
Visit websiteCESDA
ReusBased in Reus (Tarragona), CESDA is the school in Spain offering an official university degree in commercial aviation piloting that leads to a frozen ATPL.
Visit websitePanamedia International Flight School
MallorcaFounded in 1980 with bases in Mallorca, Valencia and Castellón, delivering ATPL theory in person across the 13 subjects.
Visit websiteEnglish exams, Mediterranean flying weather
Spain's draw for international students is a specific combination: the ATPL, CPL and IR theory exams are administered in English, so you can train and be examined without Spanish fluency, while benefiting from lower living costs and reliable flying weather. FTEJerez notes roughly 300 days of sunshine a year at its Jerez base, which schools credit for fewer weather cancellations and steadier flight-training progress. Several Spanish schools also carry deep airline-partnership pipelines, which is why so many EASA cadets from other countries train here.
ATPL in Spain: common questions
Who runs the ATPL theory exams in Spain?
AESA (the State Aviation Safety Agency) is the competent authority and owns the exams, while SENASA runs the exam logistics on its behalf. You register through your ATO into the AESA and SENASA system.
How much is the ATPL theory exam fee in Spain?
AESA's 2026 fee schedule sets the theory-exam fee at €77.79 per subject for ATPL, CPL and IR candidates. The flight test is charged separately.
What language are the ATPL exams in Spain?
ATPL, CPL and IR theory exams are administered in English only. Spanish is available for PPL-level exams, but not for the professional ATPL papers.
Sources
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Preparing for the AESA ATPL theory exams?
Whichever EASA state you sit them in, the 13 papers come from the same central question bank. SkyStudy turns that syllabus into exam-style practice, spaced repetition, and timed mock exams. Free to start, no card needed.
This page is general educational information for student pilots and may be out of date. Aviation rules, training requirements, costs, medical standards, and exam details change over time and vary by country, authority, and training organisation, so details here may no longer be current or may differ in your case. Always confirm the current details with your approved training organisation (ATO) and national aviation authority before relying on them. SkyStudy is an independent study aid, is not affiliated with EASA or any aviation authority, and does not guarantee any exam or licence outcome.
Last reviewed July 2026