IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme Loan
How much the IndiGo cadet programme costs, how long it takes and how families fund it with an education loan.
- ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 croreReported total fee
- About 21 monthsProgramme length
- Airbus A320Type rating
- Partial EMIDuring training, with an LOI
Where cadets train
- Ground school
- Garuda Aviation Academy
- Flying
- 43 Air School, South Africa
- Also
- Marigold, Chimes, Insight
Quick answer
The IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme trains freshers for about 21 months, ending with an A320 type rating. IndiGo publishes no single fee. Reported totals are ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 crore. Most families use an education loan, from a government bank against property or an NBFC without property.
What is the IndiGo cadet programme?
It is IndiGo's route for students with no flying experience. You train with a partner academy and finish with a type rating on the Airbus A320.
The programme is run with several training partners. Where you train depends on the partner and batch.
- Ground school and CPL flying, often abroad
- Conversion of the licence to a DGCA CPL
- A320 type rating at the end
Compare it with the Air India cadet pilot programme loan and the Akasa SkyCadet loan before you choose.
IndiGo cadet programme facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Airline | IndiGo |
| Training partners | Garuda Aviation Academy (ground school, Gurugram) with flying at 43 Air School, South Africa. Marigold Aviation (IndiGo's 9th partner, Oct 2024). Chimes Aviation Academy. Insight Aviation with 43 Air School (17 cadets, July 2026). |
| Where training happens | Ground school in India (Garuda, Gurugram) and flying at partner schools, including 43 Air School in South Africa |
| Phases and months | About 21 months. Marigold route: 15 months ground school and CPL with multi-engine instrument rating (MEIR), 4 months licence conversion, 2 months A320 type rating. |
| Aircraft type rating | Airbus A320 |
| Cost | IndiGo publishes no single fee. Reported ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 crore depending on the training partner. The Chimes programme lists ₹1.04 crore. |
| Eligibility | Class 1 medical. Aptitude, simulator and interview selection. |
| Selection stages | Aptitude test, simulator assessment, interview |
Source: IndiGo press release (Garuda Aviation Academy), Halldale (Marigold Aviation), HR Katha (Chimes Aviation Academy), AFM (Insight Aviation LOI, July 2026), Pilots Academy and Chimes Aviation Academy (IndiGo cadet fees, 2026). Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
How much does the IndiGo cadet programme cost?
IndiGo publishes no single fee. It depends on the training partner, so confirm the current fee with your partner before you apply for a loan.
| Fee point | Programme fee | Government bank loan (85%) | You pay (15% margin) | NBFC loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported low end | ₹85 lakh | ₹72.25 lakh | ₹12.75 lakh | ₹85 lakh |
| Chimes programme | ₹1.04 crore | ₹88.4 lakh | ₹15.6 lakh | ₹1.04 crore |
| Reported high end | ₹1.3 crore | ₹1.1 crore | ₹19.5 lakh | ₹1.3 crore |
Source: Pilots Academy (reported ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 crore), Chimes Aviation Academy (₹1.04 crore), 2026. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Also budget for items outside the programme fee:
- DGCA medicals and exam fees
- Travel to the training base
- Living costs during ground school
A lender can include these in the loan if they are shown in the cost letter.
Loan options for the IndiGo cadet programme
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. Selected IndiGo cadets usually get an LOI, a conditional pre-employment letter from the airline. It lets a lender ask for only a partial EMI during training, without collateral.
| 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 | ₹88.4 lakh | ₹1.04 crore | ||
| You pay at the start | ₹15,60,000 margin + ₹1,76,800 to ₹3,09,400 fee and insurance | ₹3,12,000 to ₹9,36,000 fee and insurance | ||
| Each month during training | ₹0 | ₹62,617 a month | ₹80,000 a month | ₹1,18,206 to ₹1,31,585 a month |
| EMI after training (15 years) | ₹1,07,656 a month. Includes interest added during the 21-month training | ₹87,051 a month | ₹1,18,206 to ₹1,31,585 a month | |
| Co-borrower income | Checked by the bank | At least ₹6 lakh a year | ₹1,48,206 to ₹1,61,585 a month | |
Worked out for a 21-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.
Read more on the government bank loan with property and the NBFC loan without property.
Can a first officer's salary cover the EMI?
Salaries are reported ranges, not promises. They do show what the EMI looks like against airline pay.
| Role | Reported pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IndiGo first officer | ₹32 lakh to ₹65 lakh a year | Aviation A2Z, Aug 2026 |
| IndiGo captain | ₹90 lakh to ₹2 crore a year | Aviation A2Z, Aug 2026 |
Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
A reported starting pay of ₹32 lakh+ a year covers the EMIs above. A job is not guaranteed after training.
Plan the loan for your IndiGo cadet 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.
How to get selected for the IndiGo cadet programme
Selection runs in stages. Prepare for each one before you pay any fee.
- Aptitude test. Maths, physics, reasoning and English. Revise 10+2 basics.
- Simulator assessment. Tests coordination and how you handle instructions under pressure.
- Interview. Motivation, communication and why you want to fly for IndiGo.
- Medical. Class 2 to start training. Class 1 is needed for the CPL, so get it done early.
Still deciding between a cadet seat and your own CPL? Read our guide to cadet programme vs CPL.
How to apply for the loan
- Get the selection letter, the LOI and the fee schedule from the training partner.
- Decide the loan: a government bank with property, or an NBFC without property.
- Share KYC, academic and income documents for the student and co-borrower.
- Receive the sanction letter. Many partners ask for it to confirm your seat.
- The lender pays the school in stages as per the fee schedule.
See the full document list on pilot loan eligibility, or go back to the education loan for pilot training overview.
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
- Applying for the loan only after the first fee is due, leaving no time for sanction.
- Budgeting for the reported fee but not for medicals, exams, travel and living costs.
- Treating the cadet programme as a job guarantee and borrowing beyond what the family can repay.
- Taking an NBFC loan without an LOI, when the full EMI then runs through all 21 months of training.
- Not clearing the Class 2 medical before the first disbursal, or leaving Class 1 too late.
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 IndiGo 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.