Akasa Air Receives Approval for International Flights and Plans Triple-Digit Aircraft Order

Akasa Air Receives Approval for International Flights and Plans Triple-Digit Aircraft Order

VoM News Desk | October 18, 2023 | 05:15 PM IST | Breaking News, Travel, World | Follow on Google News

Akasa Air Receives Approval for International Flights and Plans Triple-Digit Aircraft Order

Akasa Air Receives Approval for International Flights and Plans Triple-Digit Aircraft Order

Akasa Air, a relatively new player in the Indian aviation scene, is poised for significant growth and expansion. The airline, which recently marked its first anniversary of operations in August, has received the government’s approval to operate flights to prominent international destinations, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, and Kuwait. Vinay Dube, the Chief of Akasa Air, has expressed that the airline is in a “very exciting phase” and expects to commence international services in the near future.

Akasa Air currently boasts a fleet of 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with two additional planes set to join its ranks by the end of this year. Dube, emphasizing the airline’s robust financial position, announced that Akasa Air plans to place a triple-digit aircraft order within the next 75 days or by the end of this year.

While speaking to the Press Trust of India, Dube highlighted the recent approval from the civil aviation ministry to operate flights to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. However, he acknowledged that the process of gaining the necessary approvals from foreign governments would take some time. Regarding the timeline for the first international flight, Dube noted that it would be challenging to pinpoint a specific date due to varying approval timelines from different countries. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that international operations would begin “soon enough.”

Akasa Air currently operates around 700 weekly flights and serves 16 cities within India. In September, the airline carried 5.17 lakh passengers and held a domestic market share of 4.2 percent, according to official data.

Addressing rumors about funding issues, Dube reassured that the airline is cash flow positive and continues to build reserves. He dismissed speculations of the Jhunjhunwala family’s departure from the airline, stating that they are invested for the long term.

The airline did face pilot-related issues when some pilots left without serving the required notice period, resulting in the cancellation of scheduled flights. Akasa Air has taken legal action against these pilots, but Dube confirmed that the matter is now behind them, and the airline is fully focused on growth.

India is one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets, and airlines in the country have placed substantial orders for aircraft as they aim to expand their operations. Akasa Air’s recent order for additional Boeing 737-8 jets brings its total fleet to 76 aircraft, including 23 Boeing 737-8s and 53 Boeing 737-8-200s, with plans for significant expansion by mid-2027.

VoM News Desk

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