AirFish Voyager set for launch on Singapore–Batam route by end-2026 with BatamFast

ST Engineering AirX, a joint venture between ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace business and Wigetworks, has announced that BatamFast will launch the world’s first AirFish Voyager service on the Singapore–Batam route by the second half of 2026.

The announcement was made on 1 February 2026, during the opening day of the Singapore Airshow, and further detailed in a formal statement on 3 February. It marks a major milestone in the commercialisation of wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft as a new category of over-water high-speed transport.

BatamFast will lease and operate the 10-passenger AirFish Voyager, a vessel designed to glide just metres above the sea using aerodynamic ground effect. Operations will begin once maritime regulatory approvals are secured, which are expected by mid-2026.

AirX has been working with Bureau Veritas since 2024 on the classification and certification of the craft. The approval process is now entering its final stages, with the Singapore maritime regulator’s endorsement still required before passenger operations can begin.

The AirFish Voyager is being assembled in Singapore and offers key specifications aimed at transforming regional maritime travel:

• Cruising speed: 100kt (185km/h)

• Maximum altitude: 7m above sea surface

• Passenger capacity: 10, including crew

• Payload: 1,000kg

• Range: 300nm (556km)

• Propulsion: Twin General Motors V8 automotive engines, running on petrol

Originally intended to have one engine, the design was updated to a twin-engine configuration to improve manoeuvring, especially during docking.

Because the AirFish Voyager is a maritime-class vehicle, it does not require clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, and will be operated by a maritime master with a specific endorsement for the craft.

Chua Choon Leng, General Manager of BatamFast, said the introduction of the AirFish Voyager reflects the company’s commitment to offering “faster, more efficient and more memorable travel experiences,” while reinforcing its role as a leading ferry operator in the region.

The announcement also included a second strategic partnership with Wings Over Water Ferries (WOW) in India. WOW will lease and operate up to four AirFish Voyager craft beginning in late 2026, subject to local route approvals.

Initial deployments in India will focus on high-demand coastal states, including Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. ST Engineering AirX and WOW will also explore local assembly, training, maintenance, and manufacturing capabilities, in support of India’s Make in India initiative.

Siddharth Verma, Managing Director of WOW Ferries, called the partnership “a defining moment” for India’s coastal transport sector, positioning the AirFish Voyager as a fast, infrastructure-light mobility solution bridging the gap between boats and aircraft.

Jeffrey Lam, President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering, described the agreements as “a significant development in our journey to bring the AirFish platform to market.”

He added that the partnerships with BatamFast and WOW Ferries “lay the foundation for WIG technology to become a new, high-speed mobility solution for the region.”

AirX expects to begin low-rate production of the craft in 2027, with an initial run of 6–12 units. Over time, production may scale to up to 36 craft annually, with a future manufacturing location still to be confirmed, possibly elsewhere in Asia.

The AirFish Voyager’s positioning aligns with growing international interest in WIG craft. Regent Craft, a US company, is developing a similar all-electric “seaglider”, and is pursuing US Coast Guard classification, despite interest from the Federal Aviation Administration.