On 28 and 29 October 2025, Lanzarote Air Base welcomed the Distinguished Visitors and Media Days of the European Air Refuelling Training (EART) 2025, part of the broader exercise running from 17 to 31 October. These two days provided an opportunity for key stakeholders, journalists, and partners to observe firsthand the planning, coordination, and execution of complex multinational air-to-air refuelling operations.
On 28 October, a high-level delegation led by Major-General Franck Mollard, Commander of the European Air Transport Command (EATC), visited the deployed EATC personnel who prepared and enabled the exercise. The visit also included a courtesy call to Colonel Carlos Jiménez Andrés, Commander of Lanzarote Air Base, whose support was instrumental to the smooth conduct of the exercise. Highlighting the teamwork and commitment of all involved, General Mollard noted:
“Around 150 highly dedicated men and women are deployed here, and I am particularly proud that EATC contributes a major share of this workforce. Every division — Operations, Functional, Policy & Support, and Public Affairs — plays its part. This collective involvement sends a clear message: we succeed because we succeed together.”
The following day, on 29 October, the Media Day brought together over twenty journalists from across Europe to learn about EART 2025’s operational objectives, planning, and multinational coordination. Presentations by Colonel Guido Henrich, Exercise Director, and Lieutenant-Colonel Alberto Marconi, Planning Officer, provided insight into the exercise’s operational setup.
A highlight of the day was the media flight aboard the Spanish A400M. From the aircraft’s open ramp, journalists experienced a unique, immersive view of tankers and fighter aircraft flying in close formation over the Atlantic. This rare perspective allowed observers to appreciate the coordination, precision, and trust required for multinational air operations, while gaining insight into the complexity and scale of air mobility missions.
Media coverage highlighted the significance of EART 2025 in demonstrating Europe’s air mobility and cooperative capabilities:
- Best Shot Aircraft – EART 2025: Real Interoperability and Tactical Sustainability over the Atlantic
- Motril Digital – El cielo atlántico une a Europa: EART 2025 muestra la fuerza de la cooperación aérea
- Military Aviation Reachout – Ocean Sky and EART 2025
- Squadron Insider – EART 2025
Concluding the two-day visit, General Mollard underlined the broader significance of the exercise:
“EART is more than a training event — it is a strong signal of European readiness, interoperability, and unity. I am truly proud of our people, our mission, and our partners.”