Air India vs Akasa vs IndiGo cadet programs
Cadet-program pages change often: intakes open and close, partners change, fee structures move into application forms, and eligibility wording gets revised. This comparison is a snapshot from the official Air India, Akasa and IndiGo pages at verification time. Treat it as a starting point, then confirm the live terms yourself.
All three airlines run official cadet programs. Air India publishes the most detailed eligibility (age 18 to 30, 60% in Physics, Maths and English, NIOS accepted). Akasa leads to a Boeing 737 MAX type rating but its applications are closed at verification time. IndiGo runs its program through named partner academies toward an Airbus A320 type rating, but publishes fewer fixed figures. Fees on all three are shared mainly inside the application.
Do not pay anyone, or apply through a third party, based on this comparison alone. Use each airline's own page and official program communications. If a fee, bond or placement clause is not public, treat it as unverified until you see it in writing.
Snapshot comparison
| Field | Air India Cadet Pilot Programme | Akasa SkyCadet Programme | IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official page | cadetpilot.airindia.com | akasaair.com | goindigo.in careers |
| Application status | Page has an Apply Now link | Applications closed at verification time | Verify current intake on the official page |
| Nationality | Indian citizen or OCI | Indian citizens | Verify on official page |
| Age | 18 to 30 years | Min 18 at application; max 40 at enrolment | Varies by intake and partner; verify |
| Education | 60% in each of English, Maths, Physics; NIOS accepted | 10+2 with Physics, Maths and English | 10+2 with 51% in each of English, Maths, Physics (per approved partners); verify |
| Medical | DGCA Class 1 before flight training | Medical requirements apply; verify current FAQ | DGCA Class 1 (verify) |
| Training path | CPL training and type rating | Ground school, CPL flight training, Boeing 737 MAX type rating | CPL and Airbus A320 type rating |
| Training partners | Amravati academy plus AeroGuard and Acron (US) | Dunes Aviation Academy and Skynex Aero | Skyborne, Flight Training Adelaide, INSIGHT, Chimes, Garuda, Marigold |
| Fee visibility | Shared through the official application | Shared in the application process | Not public; via partner or application |
Air India Cadet Pilot Programme
Air India's official cadet page states the program selects aspiring pilots for CPL training and a type rating. CPL training runs at Air India's Flying Training Academy at Amravati, Maharashtra, plus two United States partner schools (AeroGuard Flight Training Center and Acron Aviation Academy). The type rating is provided at Air India-affiliated ATOs, including upcoming simulator centres in Gurugram, as per fleet requirement.
The eligibility on the official page includes: Indian citizen or OCI; age 18 to 30 years; good written and spoken English; good physical and mental health with a minimum height of 158 cm; a DGCA Class 1 medical before flight training; and 60% in 10+2 including 60% in each of English, Mathematics and Physics, with NIOS accepted. Air India also lists a financing partner cadets may use, while noting they are free to choose another lender.
Akasa SkyCadet Programme
Akasa's official page describes a three-phase pathway: ground school, CPL flight training, and a type rating on the Boeing 737 MAX. At verification time, the page states that applications are closed, so treat any "apply now" claim elsewhere with caution.
Akasa lists Indian citizenship, a minimum age of 18 at application and maximum 40 at enrolment, 10+2 with Physics, Mathematics and English, English proficiency, and no criminal record or history of disciplinary or legal action. It names Dunes Aviation Academy (Bhavnagar) and Skynex Aero as training partners, and separately warns that it does not engage agents or third parties for induction, which is a useful reminder that anyone charging to "get you in" is not the airline.
IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program
IndiGo's official careers page confirms it runs a Cadet Pilot Program that takes selected candidates to an initial CPL and an Airbus A320 type rating. IndiGo lists several approved training partners for it: Skyborne Airline Academy, Flight Training Adelaide, INSIGHT Aviation, Chimes Aviation Academy, Garuda Aviation and Marigold.
The fields that vary most, the exact age cap, fees and intake windows, are not published as a single figure on IndiGo's page and differ by partner. Approved partner academies commonly list 10+2 with 51% in each of English, Maths and Physics (NIOS accepted) and a minimum age of 18, but confirm the current cut-offs on IndiGo's page or the specific partner named there.
Because IndiGo runs the program through several partner academies, the eligibility and fee details quoted online often come from one partner, or from an agent, and can be out of date. Confirm any age cap, fee or bond against IndiGo's official careers page or the approved partner named there. Do not treat screenshots, old PDFs or agent WhatsApp messages as current program terms.
How to choose between programs
Do not rank programs by airline logo. Rank them by what actually affects your money and your risk:
- Published eligibility
- Total fee and payment schedule
- Refund and failed-stage terms
- Training partner and location
- Whether the type rating is included
- Bond or service commitment
- Placement wording
- What happens if the intake timing changes
Use the cost calculator and keep a written comparison sheet before you apply, and read the broader cadet-program guide for what the terms mean.
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Frequently asked questions
Which cadet program is best in India?+
Are applications open for Akasa SkyCadet?+
At verification time, Akasa's official SkyCadet page states that applications are closed. Check the official page again before planning around any intake.
Does Air India accept NIOS for cadet eligibility?+
Yes. Air India's official cadet page states that the National Institute of Open Schooling is accepted for its listed 10+2 requirement. Always verify the current eligibility page before applying.
Does IndiGo have a cadet pilot program?+
Yes. IndiGo's official careers page confirms a Cadet Pilot Program leading to a CPL and an Airbus A320 type rating, run through approved partners such as Skyborne, Flight Training Adelaide, Chimes Aviation Academy and Garuda. The exact age limit and fees vary by intake and partner, so confirm them on the official page.
Key takeaways
- All three airlines run official cadet programs; Air India publishes the most detailed eligibility.
- Akasa leads to a 737 MAX type rating but its applications are closed at verification time.
- IndiGo runs an official program (CPL + Airbus A320) through named partners; age cap and fees vary by intake.
- Fee, bond and placement details are the highest-risk fields; get them in writing.
- Use this comparison with the broader cadet-program guide.
Before you move on
If cadet programs are not the right fit, compare the non-civil option: the armed-forces route.