Akasa SkyCadet Programme Loan
What the Akasa Air SkyCadet programme includes and how to fund it with an education loan.
- 11 June 2026Launched
- Boeing 737 MAXType rating
- FreshersWho can apply
- Up to ₹1.5 croreNBFC loan, no property needed
Training partners
- Partner
- Skynex Aero
- Partner
- Dunes Aviation Academy
Quick answer
Akasa SkyCadet is Akasa Air's cadet pilot programme, launched on 11 June 2026. It covers ground school, CPL flight training and a Boeing 737 MAX type rating with Skynex Aero and Dunes Aviation Academy. The fee is not published. Families fund it with a government bank or NBFC education loan.
What is Akasa SkyCadet?
SkyCadet is the newest airline cadet route in India. It takes freshers through to a type rating on the aircraft Akasa flies.
- Ground school
- CPL flight training
- Boeing 737 MAX type rating
The two older airline routes are the IndiGo cadet pilot programme loan and the Air India cadet programme loan. Compare all three before you apply.
Akasa SkyCadet facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Airline | Akasa Air |
| Launched | 11 June 2026 |
| Training partners | Skynex Aero, Dunes Aviation Academy |
| Phases | Ground school, CPL flight training, Boeing 737 MAX type rating. |
| Aircraft type rating | Boeing 737 MAX |
| Cost | Not published. |
| Eligibility | Freshers. Apply on Akasa's careers portal. |
| Selection stages | Application on Akasa's careers portal, then the stages Akasa announces for each batch |
Source: Akasa Air, SkyCadet launch, June 2026. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
How much loan will you need?
Akasa has not published a fee. Until you have the official schedule, plan with the example amounts below.
| Programme fee | Government bank loan (85%) | You pay (15% margin) | NBFC loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹70 lakh | ₹59.5 lakh | ₹10.5 lakh | ₹70 lakh |
| ₹90 lakh | ₹76.5 lakh | ₹13.5 lakh | ₹90 lakh |
| ₹1.1 crore | ₹93.5 lakh | ₹16.5 lakh | ₹1.1 crore |
As a reference, a self-sponsored DGCA CPL in India costs ₹55 lakh to ₹75 lakh. A type rating is extra. See type rating cost for what that adds.
Loan options for Akasa SkyCadet
A government bank lends 85% of the fees against property at around 9.5%, and you pay the other 15% yourself (the margin). An NBFC can fund 100% without property, up to ₹1.5 crore. Here is what each loan asks of you if the programme costs ₹90 lakh.
| Government bank, nothing paid during trainingAbout 9.5% | Government bank, interest paid during trainingAbout 8.5% | NBFC, with an airline LOI11% to 13% | NBFC, without an LOI11% to 13% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | ₹76.5 lakh | ₹90 lakh | ||
| You pay at the start | ₹13,50,000 margin + ₹1,53,000 to ₹2,67,750 fee and insurance | ₹2,70,000 to ₹8,10,000 fee and insurance | ||
| Each month during training | ₹0 | ₹54,188 a month | ₹60,000 a month | ₹1,02,294 to ₹1,13,872 a month |
| EMI after training (15 years) | ₹95,061 a month. Includes interest added during the 24-month training | ₹75,333 a month | ₹1,02,294 to ₹1,13,872 a month | |
| Co-borrower income | Checked by the bank | At least ₹6 lakh a year | ₹1,32,294 to ₹1,43,872 a month | |
Worked out for a 24-month course with the whole loan paid out at the start. In practice the school is paid in stages, so the interest is lower. Fees use a 1% processing fee plus insurance of 1% to 2.5% for a government bank, and 1% plus 2% to 8% for an NBFC. Exact figures depend on the lender and your profile.
What is an LOI, and why does it matter?
An LOI (Letter of Intent) is a conditional pre-employment letter from a sponsoring airline. It promises you a future role with that airline once you finish training and meet its conditions.
Because a job is lined up, lenders see the loan as low risk. So they offer a partial EMI without collateral: a fixed amount each month during training, with the full EMI only after you finish. Without an LOI, the full EMI starts from the first payment to the school.
Compare the government bank loan against property with the NBFC loan without property.
What can the SkyCadet loan cover?
A loan can cover every item that is listed in the fee letter. That usually includes:
- Ground school and study material
- CPL flight training and simulator sessions
- The Boeing 737 MAX type rating, if it is part of the fee
- DGCA exam fees, medicals and the RTR(A) licence
- Travel, hostel and living costs during training
Ask the training partner to list every item. A missing line in the fee letter is a common reason for a loan that falls short.
SkyCadet or a self-sponsored CPL?
| Akasa SkyCadet | Self-sponsored CPL in India | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not published | ₹55 lakh to ₹75 lakh |
| Type rating | Boeing 737 MAX included in the structure | Paid separately |
| Route to an airline | Structured route with Akasa | Apply to airlines yourself |
| Flexibility | Fixed partners and schedule | Choose your school and pace |
Source: Akasa Air, FMS Aviation Academy and Maverick Aviation, 2026. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
A cadet seat lowers job-search risk but usually costs more. Neither route guarantees a job.
Plan the loan for your SkyCadet seat
Tell us where you will train, whether you have property and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will show you the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
Selection tips for SkyCadet
- Apply early on the careers portal. New programmes fill batches fast.
- Clear your medical first. A DGCA Class 2, then Class 1, avoids surprises after you pay.
- Revise maths and physics. Aptitude tests lean on 10+2 basics.
- Practise on a simulator if you can.
- Prepare for the interview. Know Akasa's fleet and network.
Our guide on cadet programme vs self-funded CPL helps you weigh cost against risk.
How to apply for the loan
- Get the selection letter and the fee schedule.
- Choose a government bank loan with property, or an NBFC loan without property.
- Share KYC, marks and income documents.
- Get the sanction letter before the first fee is due.
- The lender pays the training partner in stages.
The education loan for pilot training page compares every option side by side.
Documents checklist
Student
- PAN, Aadhaar and passport
- 10th and 12th marksheets showing Physics and Maths
- Selection letter or LOI, with the fee schedule
- DGCA medical certificate
- Passport-size photographs
Co-borrower
- PAN and Aadhaar
- Salary slips and Form 16, or two years of ITRs if self-employed
- Bank statements for the last 6 months
- Proof of address
Property (government bank loan only)
- Title deed and previous title chain
- Approved building plan and latest property tax receipt
- Encumbrance certificate
Keep scanned copies ready. A complete file is the biggest factor in a fast sanction.
How the loan is paid out during training
Lenders do not release the full loan on day one. They pay the training partner in stages, against each fee demand.
| Training phase | What the lender pays | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Before training | First fee instalment | Government bank: your 15% margin. NBFC: processing fee and insurance |
| Ground school | Ground school and exam fees | Government bank: nothing, or monthly interest. NBFC: partial EMI with an LOI, full EMI without |
| Flight training | Flying fees as hours are completed | Same as above |
| Licence and type rating | Conversion and type rating fees, if included | Same as above |
| After training | Nothing further | Full EMI |
Because the money goes out in stages, interest runs only on what has been paid. It also protects you if training is paused.
Common mistakes families make
- Assuming the fee will match IndiGo's reported cost without asking Akasa's partners.
- Starting the loan after selection, when the first fee is already close.
- Forgetting what you pay each month during training on an NBFC loan, especially without an LOI.
- Leaving out living and travel costs from the fee letter.
- Not checking whether the 737 MAX type rating is fully included.
A counsellor can check your plan for these gaps before you apply. The check is free.
How to pay for pilot training
Most families use an education loan. There are three ways to do it, and the right one depends on two things: whether you have property for collateral, and whether a sponsoring airline has given you an LOI.
| Government bankWith property as collateral | NBFC, with an airline LOINo property needed | NBFC, without an LOINo property needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest rate | Around 9.5%, linked to the RBI repo rate. Around 8.5% if you pay simple interest during the course | Around 11% to 13%, based on income | |
| During training | Nothing to pay (full moratorium), or monthly simple interest for the lower rate | A fixed partial EMI each month | The full EMI on the amount paid out so far |
| After training | Full EMI starts | The same EMI continues | |
| How much is funded | 85% of the fees. You pay 15% yourself (the margin) | 100% of the fees, up to ₹1.5 crore | |
| Processing fee | 1%, refunded later apart from about ₹10,000 | About 1% | |
| Loan insurance | About 1% to 2.5% of the loan | About 2% to 8% of the loan | |
| Co-borrower income | Checked by the bank | A minimum yearly income, set by the loan amount | Monthly income about ₹30,000 more than the EMI |
| Speed | Slow (weeks) | Faster | |
What is an LOI, and why does it matter?
An LOI (Letter of Intent) is a conditional pre-employment letter from a sponsoring airline. It promises you a future role with that airline once you finish training and meet its conditions.
Because a job is lined up, lenders see the loan as low risk. So they offer a partial EMI without collateral: a fixed amount each month during training, with the full EMI only after you finish. Without an LOI, the full EMI starts from the first payment to the school.
Not every government bank gives a full moratorium on pilot training loans, and government banks are usually slow because of property checks. If you need a fast sanction and an easier process, talk to the FundMyCampus team first.
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to what students and parents ask us about pilot training
Plan your pilot training loan
Tell us where you will train, whether you have property and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will call you with the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
FundMyCampus is not affiliated with Akasa Air or its training partners. FundMyCampus is a loan facilitation platform. Loans are sanctioned by the lending bank or NBFC at its discretion. Rates are approximate and change with the RBI repo rate and your profile. We never promise approval or a rate.