Akasa Air, India's newest aviation player, has grown its fleet to 22 aircraft in 17 months, including the recent addition of two Boeing 737 MAX 8s. The airline's current fleet includes 21 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and one Boeing 737 MAX 8 200.
“Akasa Air’s remarkable growth testifies the sheer promise that India holds as an aviation market. The additions to our fleet will help us bolster the strength of our operations as we expand our footprint and foray into international skies in the coming months. Each addition to our fleet brings us closer to our purpose of connecting people, places, and cultures, and we hope that as we step into the next phase of growth, we will be able to serve millions of satisfied travelers across the globe,” Vinay Dube, Founder & CEO of Akasa Air, stated in a release.
Since commencing operations in August 2022, Akasa Air has set a global record by becoming the fastest airline to reach a fleet size of 20 aircraft within its first year. The airline has already served over 6.3 million passengers, connecting 17 Indian cities. It is poised to announce the start of international operations, focusing on the Western Asian region.
November 2023 data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows Akasa holding a steady 4.2% market share since August 2023 against IndiGo’s 60% and Tata Group airlines’ combined 26%. Earlier in the year, the airline briefly surpassed SpiceJet in market share for two consecutive months from June to July. However, it was later hit by the abrupt departure of about a tenth of its pilots and had warned it was flying less as a result, costing it market share, Sources from the airline indicate plans to resume many flights shortly.
The Indian budget carrier is expected to close an order for around 150 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes soon, per a Reuters report. The additions will aid its domestic and international expansion, with the narrowbody Boeings equipped to fly to nearby foreign destinations like Southeast Asia and the Middle East from India.
(Edited by : Shweta Mungre)
First Published: Jan 3, 2024 2:28 PM IST
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