Latest news with #Boeing737-8
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Akasa Air expects 25-30% growth in fleet every year to become 226-aircraft strong in 2032; operational profitability likely ‘very soon'
Akasa Air expects its aircraft and seat capacity to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25-30 per cent over the over the next seven years as the airline expects to have a 226-aircraft fleet by 2032, up from its current strength of 30 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft, according to the airline's chief financial officer Ankur Goel. With robust growth in capacity and the airline's 'steadfast focus on cost leadership', the three-year-old carrier is well on its path to profitability, Goel told reporters on Tuesday. The airline—India's youngest major carrier—had ordered a total of 226 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft, all of which are expected to be delivered by 2032, which comes out to 28 aircraft per year on average. Goel, however, said that the aircraft deliveries will vary over the years, with fewer deliveries likely over the next two-three years, after which they are expected to pick up significantly. Goel added that Akasa Air is in regular touch with Boeing and all signals are that the aircraft are expected to be delivered sooner than earlier anticipated, which gives the airline confidence that its aircraft order will be fulfilled by 2032. Boeing has had issues with aircraft deliveries due to various crises and regulatory oversight, but Goel said that most of Boeing's issues now seem 'to be behind them'. The airline currently has 23 Boeing 737-8 aircraft, which have 185-189 seats apiece, and seven 737-8-200 jets that can seat 197 passengers. Akasa Air also has some 737-10 aircraft—which will have 227 seats—on order, and their deliveries are likely to start from 2027. Akasa Air's revenue in 2024-25 (FY25) grew 49 per cent year-on-year, while capacity in terms of available seat kilometres (ASK) grew at a 48 per cent, Goel said, without giving specific numbers. In FY26, the airline expects its capacity in terms of ASKs to growth by 30 per cent. The airline's stage-adjusted revenue per ASK (RASK) improved by 13 per cent in FY25, while cost per ASK (CASK) was down 8 per cent, leading to unit margins improving by over 20 per cent year-on-year. Operating margin improved by half on a year-on-year basis. While the airline is still not profitable, Goel said that the trajectory of revenue growth and cost reduction on a per unit basis means that it will be operationally profitable 'very soon', but refrained from giving any specific timeline. He said that currently, the rapid capacity growth and the consequent cost increase at the company level is offsetting the improvement in revenue as well as the unit cost levels. He expects the equation to change soon as revenue and cost dynamics continue to improve significantly. 'Akasa Air's financial performance reflects the strength of our business model and the disciplined execution of our strategy. We are optimistic about the future and are looking forward to building on the momentum of our robust financial and commercial performance in the years ahead. Akasa Air is on a deterministic path towards building the industry's best cost structure, and we are confident that we will continue to set new standards driven by our efficient planning, strategic expansion and promising potential of the nation's economy,' Goel said. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
News18
22-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Akasa Air says financial performance improving; aims to have 226 planes by 2032
New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Bullish on growth prospects, Akasa Air is improving its financial performance, expanding capacity and aiming to have 226 planes by the end of 2032, a senior executive said on Tuesday, as he asserted that the nearly three-year-old airline will soon be operationally profitable. International capacity of Akasa Air is expected to rise to up to 25 per cent this fiscal from the current level of 16 per cent, Akasa Air's Chief Financial Officer Ankur Goel said, a reflection of the airline's expansion plans. Currently operating with a fleet of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the carrier also expects to ensure that all its 775 pilots are flying by the end of this fiscal year, ending March 2026. Goel said that strong revenue gains for the financial year ended March 2025, with revenue rising 49 per cent, supported by increased unit profitability. 'Capacity in terms of Available Seat Kilometres (or ASKs) grew at a staggering rate of 48 per cent compared to FY25. This was driven by a 13 per cent increase in stage-adjusted Revenue per Available Seat Kilometre (RASK), supported by enhanced focus across key business functions, including strengthened distribution capabilities and strategic investments in technology. 'The airline's Unit Cost per Available Seat Kilometre (CASK), excluding fuel, reduced by 7 per cent and EBITDAR margins for the year improved by 50 per cent despite industry-wide inflationary pressures," he said. EBITDAR refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and rent costs. In FY26, he said the airline expects its capacity to grow over 30 per cent in terms of ASKs. The loss-making airline expects to be operationally profitable soon. 'If we are myopic (with) profitability, then we will have to take a lot of short-term decisions," Goel said. Revenues from ancillary services, which account for 10 per cent of the total revenues, are a key element for Akasa Air, which currently offers more than 25 ancillary products. According to him, Boeing has been a very supportive and reliable partner, and the airline is getting planes sooner. The airline has placed firm orders for 226 Boeing 737 MAX planes, and 30 have been delivered so far, with Goel saying deliveries are expected to pick up in the coming years. The executive said the carrier aims to have 226 planes by the end of 2032, and the fleet capacity growth will be around 25-30 per cent CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) in the seven-year period. At present, Akasa Air has 23 Boeing 737-8 planes that have up to 189 seats and 7 Boeing 737-8200 aircraft that have up to 197 seats. Boeing 737-10 planes that will have up to 227 seats are expected to join the fleet from 2027, Goel said. On whether there has been an impact on overall demand post the Air India plane crash, Goel said he has not seen any impact on demand. While emphasising that the airline focuses on cost efficiency and cost leadership, he highlighted that in the Indian aviation market, capacity is growing at around 8 per cent, while the demand is rising by 15-18 per cent. 'This is the golden decade of Indian airlines." PTI RAM BAL BAL view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Asahi Shimbun
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Asahi Shimbun
South Korea preparing to order airlines to check fuel switches on Boeing jets
Korean Airlines' Airbus A220-300 planes and a Boeing 737-8 plane of Jin Air, a low-cost airline, a subsidiary company of Korean Airlines, are seen during an organised media tour, at its Maintenance Hangar in Seoul on June 27, 2024. (REUTERS) SEOUL--South Korea's transport ministry is preparing to order all airlines in the country that operate Boeing jets to examine fuel switches in accordance with a 2018 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the ministry's foreign media spokesperson said on Monday. The spokesperson did not give a timeline for the checks. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fuel switch locks have come under scrutiny after a preliminary report into the crash of an Air India's Boeing 787-8 jet that killed 260 people last month mentioned a 2018 advisory from the FAA. The FAA advisory recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models, including the 787, to inspect the locking feature of the fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally. Reuters reported on Sunday, citing a document and sources, that the planemaker and the FAA have privately issued notifications to airlines and regulators that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe and checks are not required. The Air India preliminary report said the airline had not carried out the FAA's suggested inspections as the FAA's 2018 advisory was not a mandate. But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash.
New York Post
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
Feds issue urgent warning over risk of Boeing 737 Max engines leaking smoke into cabin, cockpit
Federal regulators have issued a rare, urgent warning over the risk of Boeing 737 Max engines malfunctioning and letting smoke into an airplane cabin or cockpit. Damage to the engine's oil system can cause smoke from hot oil to enter the airplane ventilation system and fill the cabin or cockpit – presenting an extreme danger of incapacitating the pilots, the National Transportation Safety Board wrote in a report released Wednesday. The recommendations were inspired by two incidents on Southwest Airlines flights, when CFM International LEAP-1B engines malfunctioned after bird strikes and poured smoke into the cabins. Advertisement Boeing 737 engines at the company's factory in Renton, Wash. AP In December 2023, a Boeing 737-8 filled with 'acrid white smoke' shortly after takeoff from New Orleans, La. It was so thick that the captain struggled to see the instrument panel in the cockpit, the NTSB said. An engine on another flight in March 2023 was similarly damaged by a bird strike, allowing fog to funnel into the passenger cabin shortly after departing Havana, Cuba. Advertisement Both flights required emergency landings, and there were no injuries, the safety agency said. The NTSB is recommending modifications to the engines, which are used on Boeing 737 Max planes and Airbus A32 jets. In an urgent notice, it is asking the Federal Aviation Administration to evaluate whether LEAP-1A and LEAP-1C engines have the potential for the same issue. The NTSB also expressed concern that flight crews are unaware of the potential smoke hazard and won't know how to take action. The agency said it had urged the FAA to require operators like Boeing to alert crews of the smoke risk. Advertisement Damage to a CFM International LEAP-1B engine. NTSB / Southwest Airlines Boeing has already revised its flight manuals for pilots detailing what steps to take to prevent smoke from entering the cockpit or cabin, the NTSB said. 'CFM International and Boeing have been working on a software design update. We support the NTSB's recommendation,' Boeing told The Post in a statement. GE Aerospace, which owns CFM International, told The Post it is also aligned with the NTSB's recommendations and 'the work is already underway.'
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Air India ends Imphal operations, AI Express to take over
Guwahati: Amid operational difficulties and technical issues causing significant delays at Guwahati airport over two days, Air India ceased full-service operations from Imphal International Airport in the northeast from Monday. Officials indicated this was a strategic decision. While AAI senior officials noted increased precautionary aircraft inspections across the country, including the northeast, aviation sector sources clarified that Air India's withdrawal from Imphal stemmed from strategic considerations rather than security or technical issues. An aviation industry source said services ended on Monday due to route optimisation. The source added that Air India's budget carrier, Air India Express, intends to operate these previously served routes from Imphal International Airport. "In non-metro cities like Imphal, Air India Express offers more suitable fares that match the budget of the flyers. Air India Express is planning to gradually take over those routes on which Air India services were discontinued from Imphal. But the introduction of flights by Air India Express will be based on market demands," a source in Air India Express told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo The official clarified that the withdrawal of Air India from Imphal is not linked to any security-related issues following the Ahmedabad plane crash. The northeast operations for both airlines faced challenges recently. A technical fault in a Kolkata-bound Air India Express aircraft on Saturday night led to about 18-hour delay for passengers, causing operational issues at Guwahati Airport. Subsequently, a Guwahati-Hyderabad flight was cancelled at 11 pm on Sunday due to operational constraints, prompting passenger protests at the airport. "On June 15, Guwahati-Hyderabad - scheduled departure was at 13:40, which was revised to 23:00 and later cancelled due to operational reasons. Multiple options were given to guests. Guests who chose to go by the next day's flights were provided with hotel accommodation in Guwahati. Meals were also served to all guests," Air India Express said in response to a query by TOI. It stated that on Monday, the additional flight on Guwahati-Hyderabad departed at 12:40 pm. "The regular service on Guwahati-Hyderabad departed on time today at its usual time of 13:40. The aircraft was a Boeing 737-8," it added. The Imphal International Airport authorities penned an emotional note on Sunday evening, calling it "Farewell to a Legacy: Final Moments of Air India at Imphal International Airport." "As it took its final departure, an era of Air India operations at Imphal came to a close," read the note on its social media page. "These poignant final moments capture the heartfelt farewell as the 'Big Brother' bid adieu to Imphal International Airport after years of dedicated service. With a legacy rooted in reliability, resilience, and a deep connection with the people of Manipur, Air India's departure truly marks the end of an era," it added. In the picture, an emotional Air India employee was seen waving goodbye, tears gently rolling down, while the "Big Brother" — Air India — cast one last look at the upcoming new terminal building and ATS complex, as if offering a silent blessing. "As the aircraft taxied out, the younger brother, AIX (Air India Express), stood by quietly, watching with a heavy heart and a solemn promise — to carry forward the legacy and provide the best possible service. With a final wave of blessing, the Big Brother ascended into the skies — his departure etched forever in the hearts of all who witnessed it," read the post.
