Missing out on the pilot school was disappointing but the future of the airport was still bright, Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose said.

"The team at Launceston Airport, working in close collaboration with the Tasmanian Government had developed an extremely competitive bid," Mr Grose said.

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"However, the multi-award-winning airport is well positioned to host other organisations looking to establish pilot training schools due to the favourable nature of the airport.

"While this is disappointing, the future for Launceston Airport as the leading regional airport in Australia is very bright indeed."

The Launceston Chamber of Commerce had pushed for the pilot school to be located in Launceston, due to the economic benefits that would flow.

Mr Grose said the airport was ready to host such a pilot school due to the scope to construct appropriate buildings and exciting developments such as the UTAS Inveresk campus, which would complement any facility.

Qantas announced last year it was pursuing a location for a pilot school, opening it up to competitive bids from states and regional locations.

In September the airline announced Toowoomba as its preferred location for the pilot school, while simultaneously saying it would also choose a second location from the remaining bids.

Mr Grose said Launceston had put in a competitive bid and would have been a great location for the pilot school.

However, he congratulated the winning locations on securing the schools.

Qantas estimates suggest that 790,000 more pilots will be required globally over the next 20 years with around one-third of them in the Asia Pacific.

A spokesperson for Qantas said Mackay was selected due to a high proportion of clear weather days per year, access to uncongested airspace, access to support infrastructure and ability to attract students and trainers to live in the area.

Qantas will now work with Mackay Regional Council, Mackay Airport and the Queensland Government to further progress the proposal for the site.

Qantas Group Pilot Academy executive manager Wes Nobelius said the airport, government and community had shown why Mackay would be an ideal place to train the next generation of pilots.

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"Mackay offers optimal flying conditions and a sunny Queensland lifestyle which makes it an ideal site for a pilot academy," Mr Nobelius said.

"Our initial focus is opening the first Pilot Academy site in Toowoomba and rapidly expanding the number of pilots there next year before we progress our plans for Mackay."

In the meantime, Qantas is focused on opening the Pilot Academy's first site in Toowoomba which is on track to open its doors to the first student intake in September 2019 with construction on hangars, classrooms and student accommodation underway.

Applications for interested students opened in May and Qantas' appointed training provider, Flight Training Adelaide (FTA), is working through the selection process for the first intake of students at Toowoomba.