Akasa Air Now Ready To Operate On International Routes With Fleet Of 20 Airframes

Achieving the criteria of successfully operating 900 flights every week and having a fleet of 20 planes, Akasa Air can now start operating on international routes as well.

Akasa Air has flown 4.3 million passengers with over 900 flights per week, besides becoming eligible to fly internationally with a fleet of 20 aircraft in its first year of commercial operations, which it completed on Monday, the airline said in a statement. Owned by SNV Aviation Pvt Ltd and founded by former Jet Airways CEO, Vinay Dube along with others, Akasa Air commenced operations with its maiden flight taking off from Mumbai for Ahmedabad on August 7, 2022. The airline has so far managed to operate rather smoothly in the due course of time.

In its first year of commercial operations, Akasa Air served 4.3 million passengers with a 4.9 per cent market share, and crossed the milestone of operating over 900 weekly flights with a published network of 35 unique routes across 16 destinations, the airline said in a statement on Monday.

Also, the airline said, it has carried over 25,000 tonnes of cargo across its network during this time.

Akasa has during the period also registered a passenger load factor of over 84 per cent since the start of operations, with a steadily growing record of close to 90 per cent in the current financial year, it said.

"We feel extremely fulfilled to have successfully executed our ambitious and unprecedented scale-up over the last 12 months. Our first year has given us a strong operating and financial platform to execute on our continued growth ambitions," said Dube.

He further said, "Our first year has built the foundation for the long term, and we feel incredibly optimistic as we continue to invest in our future." Earlier this month, the added 20th aircraft—B 737-8-200, to the fleet, which made it qualified to start its flight services on international routes.

Akasa has already stated it plans to fly on international routes by December this year.

Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 76 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft--23 B737-8s and 53 high-capacity B737-8-200 aircraft--powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines.

In addition, the airline said, it remains fully committed to placing a three-digit aircraft order by the end of 2023.

Akasa Air also said it continues to invest in training and has set up several learning academies in key cities across the country. The airline also said it has also recently installed B737 - 8200 Max Mid Exit Door to ensure that the cabin crew is equipped to deal with emergencies in its newly-inducted aircraft, from the get-go.