Akasa Air, In a significant move to enhance its presence in the rapidly growing Indian aviation market, Akasa Air, India’s youngest airline, has confirmed an order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes. The announcement was made during the Wings India air show in Hyderabad. The comprehensive order includes both 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets, ensuring a continuous influx of aircraft deliveries for Akasa Air until 2032.
Akasa Air’s founder and chief executive Vinay Dube expressed optimism about the substantial order, stating, “This large and historic aircraft order puts Akasa on a path to becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world by the turn of this decade. These additions to our fleet will help us bolster the strength of our operations as we expand our footprint and venture into international skies in the very near future.”
Akasa Air initiated its aircraft procurement with an initial order for 72 Boeing 737 MAX planes in 2021, followed by an additional four Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in June 2023. The latest deal in January 2024 brings Akasa Air’s total order book to an impressive 226 aircraft. Presently operating a fleet of 22 aircraft, the airline is set to receive deliveries of a total of 204 aircraft over the next eight years.
Co-founded by prominent investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Akasa Air, which commenced operations in August 2022, currently holds a 4.4% share in the domestic aviation market, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. With plans to venture into international operations, the airline is evaluating global expansion options, considering destinations such as Singapore, the Middle East, and the Gulf, including Dammam, Qatar, and Oman, as potential locations, as mentioned in an earlier interaction with a senior Akasa executive reported by Mint.
Since its inception, Akasa Air has catered to over 6.3 million passengers, establishing itself as a prominent player in the Indian aviation sector. The airline has established connectivity across 18 cities in India, linking major destinations such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, and Ayodhya.
In a broader context, Indian airlines have been making significant strides in global aviation since 2023. Leading the way, IndiGo, India’s largest airline, placed an order for 500 aircraft at the Paris Air Show, while Air India followed suit with a substantial order for 470 aircraft in February 2023, underlining the country’s robust presence in the aviation industry.
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