Cadet Pilot Programmes in India: IndiGo vs Air India vs Akasa
How the three airline cadet programmes compare, and how a cadet seat compares with a self-sponsored CPL.
Quick answer
IndiGo, Air India and Akasa run cadet pilot programmes that combine CPL training with a type rating and a path to the airline. IndiGo's is reported at ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 crore and takes about 21 months. Air India and Akasa have not published fees. A self-sponsored CPL in India costs about ₹55 lakh to ₹75 lakh.
What is a cadet pilot programme?
A cadet programme is run by an airline with partner flying schools. You train for a CPL and a type rating on the airline's aircraft.
The airline selects cadets before training starts. Training follows a fixed structure and timeline.
- Selection by aptitude test, simulator and interview
- Ground school and flying with an approved partner
- Type rating on the airline's aircraft
- A planned path to the airline, subject to the programme terms
IndiGo vs Air India vs Akasa: comparison table
| IndiGo | Air India | Akasa SkyCadet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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). | Air India Flying Academy, Amravati (DGCA licence listed as pending). AeroGuard Flight Training Center and Acron Aviation Academy, USA. | Skynex Aero, Dunes Aviation Academy |
| Structure | 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. | CPL at Amravati or in the USA, then type rating at Air India affiliated training centres. | Ground school, CPL flight training, Boeing 737 MAX type rating. |
| Type rating | Airbus A320 | As assigned by Air India | Boeing 737 MAX |
| 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. | Not published. Air India has an unnamed financing partner. | Not published. |
| Eligibility | Class 1 medical. Aptitude, simulator and interview selection. | Indian citizen or OCI, 18 to 30 years, at least 60% in 10+2 and 60% each in English, Maths and Physics, DGCA Class 1 medical. | Freshers. Apply on Akasa's careers portal. |
| Loan page | IndiGo cadet loan | Air India cadet loan | Akasa SkyCadet loan |
Source: IndiGo press release, Halldale, HR Katha, AFM, Pilots Academy, Chimes Aviation Academy, Air India cadet programme page, Akasa Air SkyCadet launch. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
IndiGo
The most established programme, with several partners. Training includes time at 43 Air School in South Africa on some routes, and ends with an A320 type rating.
Air India
Training happens at Air India Flying Academy in Amravati or in the USA. Air India has a financing partner, which it has not named.
Akasa SkyCadet
The newest programme, launched on 11 June 2026. It is open to freshers and includes a Boeing 737 MAX type rating.
Cadet programme vs self-sponsored CPL
This is the main decision for most families. The table sets out the trade-offs without picking a side.
| Cadet programme | Self-sponsored CPL | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher. IndiGo reported at ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 crore, type rating included | Lower. ₹55 lakh to ₹75 lakh in India, type rating extra |
| Entry | Airline selection before training | Admission to a flying school |
| Structure | Fixed timeline set by the airline | You choose the school, country and pace |
| Type rating | Included, on the airline's aircraft | Paid separately when you join or apply |
| Job path | Planned path to one airline, subject to programme terms | You apply to airlines after the licence |
| Main risk | Higher debt if things do not go to plan | Waiting time between licence and job |
| Flexibility | Tied to one airline | Free to apply to any airline |
Source: Programme facts from airline and partner releases. Cost from Pilots Academy and FMS Aviation Academy and Maverick Aviation, 2026. Checked on 1 Nov 2026.
Neither route guarantees an airline job. Read the programme terms and ask what happens if you do not clear a check during training.
How to decide between them
- Check your medical. Class 2 to start training. Class 1 is needed for the CPL, so get it done early.
- Compare total cost. Add the type rating to a self-sponsored CPL before comparing.
- Check loan fit. See which loan your property, LOI and co-borrower income support.
- Read the terms. Look at bonds, conditions and what happens if you are not placed.
- Prepare for selection. Aptitude, simulator and interview preparation matters for cadet seats.
Who each route suits
A cadet programme may suit you if
- You want a fixed structure and a clear link to one airline
- Your family can support the higher total cost through a loan
- You are ready for a competitive selection process
A self-sponsored CPL may suit you if
- You want the lowest training cost
- You want to choose your school, country and pace
- You are comfortable searching for an airline job after the licence
Selected for a cadet programme? Plan your loan
Share the programme, its fee and whether you have an LOI. A counsellor will show you the loan that fits and what you pay each month.
What does cadet selection involve?
- Online application on the airline's careers portal
- Aptitude test covering maths, physics, reasoning and English
- Simulator or psychomotor assessment to check coordination
- Interview with airline panels
- Medical to DGCA Class 1 standard
See the step by step pilot training admission process.
Questions to ask before you sign
- What exactly does the fee cover, and what is extra?
- Is there a service bond with the airline, and for how long?
- What happens if I fail a check or a medical during training?
- Is any part of the fee refundable if I leave or am removed?
- When is each instalment due, and to whom is it paid?
- What is the planned timeline, and what happens if training is delayed?
- Does the airline have a financing partner, and on what terms?
Get the answers in writing. Lenders also ask for the fee schedule before sanctioning the loan.
Bond and fee refund points to check
- Bond length. How many years you must serve, and the amount payable if you leave early.
- Refund rules. Which instalments, if any, are refunded if you exit at each stage.
- Who holds the money. Whether fees go to the airline, the school or a financing partner.
Lenders read these terms too, so share them with your counsellor before the loan is sanctioned.
What this costs
- IndiGo: reported ₹85 lakh to ₹1.3 crore, and ₹1.04 crore on the Chimes programme
- Air India: not published
- Akasa SkyCadet: not published
- Self-sponsored CPL in India: ₹55 lakh to ₹75 lakh, plus a type rating
Figures as reported, checked on 30 Oct 2026. Confirm the current fee with the airline or partner before applying for a loan.
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 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.