Akasa Air launches SkyCadet, its own pilot training programme

After IndiGo and Air India, Akasa Air now has its own structured cadet pathway.

What Akasa announced

On 11 June 2026, Akasa Air launched Akasa SkyCadet, a programme to train fresh candidates into commercial pilots for the airline.

• Training partners: Skynex Aero and Dunes Aviation Academy, both approved flying training organisations
• Three phases:

1. Ground school covering DGCA exam preparation
2. CPL flight training
3. Type rating on the Boeing 737 MAX

• Applications: through Akasa Air's careers portal

Akasa COO Belson Coutinho said building a future-ready workforce will be critical to supporting the airline's expansion responsibly.

What was not announced

Akasa's release did not give the programme's duration, cost, financing, number of cadets or detailed eligibility. Check Akasa's official careers page for current criteria before applying.

How Akasa fits in

Akasa flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet, so its cadets train toward the 737, while IndiGo and Air India cadets mostly train toward the Airbus A320 family. In the first half of 2026 Akasa carried about 5.5% of India's domestic passengers and had the highest load factor among Indian carriers in June.

How to prepare

Cadet selection usually includes:

• Online tests in English, mathematics, physics and reasoning
• Aptitude and psychometric assessments
• Group exercises and interviews

Because SkyCadet's first phase is DGCA ground school, starting your theory preparation early also gives you a head start. Our Akasa Air Cadet Prep course is built around these selection stages.