Turning 3, Akasa hopeful of getting planes on time as Boeing ‘returns to historic production strength'
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Describing the relation with Boeing as ' strong and collaborative,' Akasa founder & CEO Vinay Dube said in a mail to employees Thursday: 'The manufacturer is steadily returning to its historic production strength, and we remain in close and constant dialogue with them. We are confident of receiving our planned aircraft deliveries on time this year, which will support our ambitious expansion plans.'
With Trump administration imposing 50% tariffs on India, desi airlines that have ordered Boeing planes including Air India group and Akasa are keeping their fingers crossed that the current state of India-US trade ties does not affect their deliveries.
Akasa, which started flying on Aug 7, 2022, has 226 Boeing 737 MAX on order and has so far got 30 of them.
Delayed deliveries from Boeing over the last two years have meant that many of its 775 pilots have very little or no flying to do. There has been serious heartburn among pilots over this issue. While Akasa has been assuring to resolve this issue for a while now, not getting planes from Boeing at the promised pace has meant the same remains.
Addressing this, Dube said in his Thursday mail: 'At Akasa, we are deeply committed to nurturing long-term, fulfilling careers for our pilots. Over the past 1.5 years, we have seen 31 command upgrades, with 40 more tracking positively this year. We have strengthened our instructor and examiner pool and secured a new B737 MAX simulator in Bengaluru, making us the only airline in India to train across three MAX simulators.
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Growth is across departments; we released 48 internal job postings this year, ensuring every Akasian has the opportunity to take charge of their career.' The airline has over 4,700 employees.
With its 30 planes operating 150 daily flight, the airline has over 5% domestic market share as per DGCA data, and it currently has a network of 28 destinations, including five international ones. 'Over the last year, we have welcomed 80 lakh more passengers, growing from 1.1 crore in August 2024 to 1.9 crore by August 2025.
That's about 73% increase in passenger growth in just 12 months, a remarkable milestone by any industry standard.
It speaks of the growing trust our customers place in us, the strength of our network, and the consistency with which our teams deliver the Akasa experience,' Dube's mail says.
This Jan, Akasa had appointed co-founder Belson Coutinho as COO. About him, Dube said: 'Having worked closely with operational teams across functions, Belson brings a rare blend of brand thinking, operational insight, and a deep passion for technology, service, and people.
His strong alignment with Akasa's values and sharp focus on cost leadership position him well to elevate our operational excellence in the years ahead.
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The airline will start flights from both Navi Mumbai and Greater Noida airports that will open in a few months. 'We are expanding our presence in Delhi as more slots become available, which will be a significant driver of growth for both our domestic and international operations.
We are thrilled to begin operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport and Noida International Airport (Jewar) this year. These will be pivotal to expanding access and giving us a strategic edge,' Dube said.
International expansion will 'continue to be a core strategic pillar. Over the next year, we are targeting a meaningful increase in international routes, aiming to increase international ASKs from 18% to 40% in the next few years,' he added.
The airline recently secured over $125 million in fresh capital from investors, including Premji Invest, Claypond Capital, 360 ONE Asset, and the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's family. Dube's mail adds: 'We are doing all of this (expansion) while staying financially prudent and operationally grounded. We are building a business that can weather volatility and thrive through it, not just despite our challenges, but because of how we respond to them.
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