Singapore. Marking a major step forward in redefining coastal and regional water transport in Asia, ST Engineering AirX, a JV of ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace business, February 3 announced a key milestone in bringing its AirFish Wing‑in‑Ground (WIG) craft to market through two strategic partnerships with ferry operators in Southeast Asia and India.
Since 2024, ST Engineering AirX has been partnering Bureau Veritas on the classification and certification of the AirFish WIG craft, which is expected to achieve classification by mid-2026. The new partnerships will help in accelerating the commercial introduction of the AirFish WIG craft and strengthen its positioning as a next‑generation high‑speed mobility solution for coastal and regional transport.
BatamFast to Launch First AirFish Voyager Service in the World with Singapore-Batam Route
BatamFast, a regional ferry operator will lease and operate an AirFish Voyager craft, a 10-seater WIG craft and introduce it to the ferry route between Singapore and Batam, Indonesia. Operations are expected to commence in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Underscoring a shared commitment to positioning Wing‑in‑Ground technology as a next‑generation maritime mobility solution for the region, ST Engineering AirX and BatamFast will also explore opportunities to expand operations to new destinations across Southeast Asia.
“The launch of this innovative craft underscores BatamFast’s commitment to faster, more efficient and more memorable travel experiences, solidifying our position as Asia’s leading fast ferry operator and extending our reach and impact across coastal communities and beyond,” said Chua Choon Leng, General Manager of BatamFast.
WOW Ferries to Introduce AirFish Voyager in India with Plans for Local Manufacturing, Training and MRO
In another partnership, ST Engineering AirX will work with Wings Over Water Ferries (WOW) to bring the AirFish Voyager to India. WOW will lease and operate up to four AirFish Voyager craft starting in late 2026, with the commencement of operations subject to route approvals by the local authorities.
WOW’s initial deployment strategy will focus on high-demand coastal states and sectors with strong tourism, commuter and regional connectivity potential. Planned early operating regions include Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshdweep, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. In addition to deployment, ST Engineering AirX and WOW will explore establishing local assembly, manufacturing, training and maintenance capabilities for the AirFish Voyager craft in India — supporting India’s Make‑in‑India objectives and enabling scalability of WIG craft operations across coastal states with high‑potential demand.
Siddharth Verma, Managing Director, Wings Over Water Ferries, said, “This agreement with ST Engineering is a defining moment for WOW and India’s coastal transport ecosystem. The AirFish Voyager introduces an entirely new high speed mobility layer between boats and aircraft – fast, safe and infrastructure-light.”
AirFish Voyager: A New Category of High-Speed Over-Water Transport
Developed by ST Engineering AirX, the AirFish Voyager is a next-generation Wing-in-Ground craft that glides a few metres above the water surface by harnessing the aerodynamic ground effect. The AirFish Voyager, which is currently being assembled in Singapore, can deliver:
- Speeds up to 100 knots (~185 km/h), comparable to light aircraft
- Maritime‑class operations, without the need for landing and take-off infrastructure
- Capacity for up to 10 passengers including crew
- Suitability for inter‑island connectivity, tourism, premium travel, and time‑critical mobility
“These two agreements mark a significant development in our journey to bring the AirFish platform to market. By partnering with leading operators in the maritime travel industry, we are laying the foundation for Wing‑in‑Ground technology to become a new, high‑speed mobility solution for the region,” said Jeffrey Lam, President Commercial Aerospace, ST Engineering. “Together with our partners, we look forward to accelerating the adoption of this innovative craft and transforming how coastal and regional communities connect.”
ST Engineering is showcasing its multi-disciplinary capabilities, technology leadership and engineering excellence across the air, land, sea, digital and emerging domains at the Singapore Airshow from February 3-8, 2026 at the ST Engineering Pavilion (G01).
