DFS continues to increase training numbers
Despite the high summer temperatures, around 2,000 visitors attended the Recruiting Day of DFS, the German air navigation service provider, at its Langen Campus last Saturday to learn more about career and training opportunities. The event was fully booked well in advance.
The event offered a comprehensive insight into the range of training and early-career opportunities offered by the company. In addition to the profession of air traffic controller, the event also showcased commercial apprenticeships, dual courses of study and training in the field of air traffic operations (ATOS). At numerous information booths and interactive stations, guests were able to gain a realistic insight into the day-to-day work in air traffic control and the broader field of air navigation services.
This year, for the first time, the programme was expanded to include a stand highlighting future military projects. In addition, the control centre's engineering team opened its facilities to guided tours and offered exclusive insights into its technical areas of operation.
Around 250 trainees, staff and external service providers were involved in organising the event.
DFS significantly increases number of training places
In total, there are currently around 600 young people undergoing training at DFS. These include around 400 student air traffic controllers and around 200 students in dual courses of study and commercial/technical apprenticeships with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).
DFS has significantly increased the intake into its initial training programmes in recent years, rising from 145 in 2020 to around 220 by 2024. The planned recruitment of around 220 trainees, apprentices and students again in 2027 demonstrates that this high level is being maintained. The largest share continues to be student air traffic controllers, with recruitment having remained stable at over 130 places per year since 2022 and set to rise to around 145 in 2026 and 2027.
Dual courses of study have also grown steadily, rising from 10 new recruits in 2020 to around 20 students into the air navigation services engineering programme in 2027. There are further dual courses of study in the fields of air traffic management and computer science. In addition, DFS has specifically expanded its range of opportunities in recent years, for example through new IHK apprenticeship places and a steady increase in the number of operational specialists (ATOS), with around 20 new recruits being taken on each year since 2024.
The next DFS Recruiting Day will take place on Saturday 5 June 2027. Registration must be completed in advance via the website www.dfs-recruitingday.de.
Media contact:
Kristina Kelek, Tanja Frisch
Phone: +49 (0)61033 707-4161/-4162
E-mail: presse@dfs.de
DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS), the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with 5,800 employees as at 31 December 2025. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace in peak years, up to 10,000 flights every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary DFS Aviation Services GmbH markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at Edinburgh Airport in the United Kingdom. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.