First Indian airline to reach a firm order book of 200+ aircraft within 17 months of operations
First major aircraft order announced at an airshow in India
Reaffirms airline’s strong growth trajectory and financial stability
National, 18 January 2024: Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, announced a firm order of 150 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at WINGS India 2024, Asia’s largest civil aviation event being held at Hyderabad this week. The latest order, comprising of 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets will provide the airline a steady aircraft delivery stream through 2032, cementing the company’s domestic and international expansion plans.
With this milestone announcement, the first of its kind made at an airshow in India, Akasa Air becomes the only Indian airline in the history of civil aviation to reach an order book of over 200 aircraft within a span of 17 months of commencing operations. This landmark aircraft order is a testimony of the airline’s solid financial foundation and showcases Boeing’s confidence in Akasa Air’s future.
Speaking from the WINGS 2024 airshow at Hyderabad, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air said “This large and historic aircraft order puts Akasa on a path of becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world, by the turn of this decade. Akasa’s remarkable growth testifies the sheer promise that India holds as an aviation market, and we are thrilled to be a part of this journey.
These 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 very near future. Each addition to our fleet brings us closer to our purpose of connecting people, places, and cultures. We are confident in our ability to be able to serve millions of satisfied travellers across the globe, as we step into the next phase of our growth”, he added.
“We are at a cusp where it is natural for our ecosystem to celebrate our financial stability, growth potential and market share. However, I am most proud of what Akasa and its employees have been able to achieve in terms of reliability and service excellence while pursuing the highest standards of safety in global aviation. This underscores our growth philosophy of expanding in step with the laser focussed delivery of industry leading customer experience”, Vinay concluded.
In 2021, Akasa Air had placed its initial order of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which was followed up with an order of 4 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in June 2023. This new deal in January 2024, takes the airline’s order book to an impressive total of 226 aircraft. Akasa Air currently operates a fleet of 22 aircraft and will receive deliveries of a total of 204 aircraft over the course of eight years.
Reaffirms commitment to sustainability and customer experience
Aligning with the airline’s commitment to sustainability, the 737 MAX family provides greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to those it replaces. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter airplane with a 50% lower noise footprint than replacement airplanes. The 737 MAX family also provides the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle airplane as well as high dispatch reliability and enhanced passenger experience. The seats provide enhanced comfort and ample legroom and will come with USB ports, allowing passengers to charge their devices on the go. Further, in keeping with Akasa Air’s commitment to be India’s most dependable airline, a homogenous fleet will allow the airline to reduce operational complexities and offer reliable operations.
Since inception, Akasa Air has received immense appreciation for its distinguished offerings including its inflight meal service – Café Akasa, pet carriage policy – Pets on Akasa, as well as the signature warm service delivered on ground and inflight. The airline’s category-defining product, service, on time leadership and operational efficiencies have resulted in consistent passenger load factors and extremely positive customer feedback.
Akasa Air has established a strong presence connecting metros with tier 2 and 3 cities across the country. Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has served over 6.3 million passengers and connects with 18 cities across India, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair and Ayodhya. Bookings for flights on Akasa Air are available on its website – www.akasaair.com, Android & IOS app as well as through travel agents and several OTAs across the country
As the airline plans to expand its footprint in India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, this latest order will support Akasa Air’s ambitions and cater to the country’s burgeoning air travel demand, on way to becoming the largest aviation market by 2047.
