Indian low cost carrier Akasa Air has announced that it has placed a firm order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
The new order consists of a combination of 737 MAX 8-200 and MAX 10 aircraft, and is expected to be delivered steadily over the next nine years through 2032. Speaking at the WINGS India 2024 air show, 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.
The carrier is confident in their latest purchase, even after the fallout following the Alaska Airlines door plug incident. Even if it was not said, orders like these do not come about overnight, and Alaska’s situation does not directly impact Akasa’s order as they have no MAX 9s in its deal book.
In 2021, the carrier ordered 72 737 MAX aircraft, followed by four MAX 8s in June 2023. At the time of publishing, Akasa was operating 21 Boeing 737 MAX 8s as well as one MAX 8-200. That left 54 outstanding for delivery, and with their latest order, they are now up to 204 by the end of 2032.
Akasa Air operates flights to more than 17 destinations across India, with more to be added in 2024. The bulk of their operations are based out of its two hubs in Bengaluru (BLR) and Mumbai (BOM), with plans to expand beyond India to countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.
The airline still has a long way to go, currently capturing 4% of India’s air travel market share compared to a whopping 60% held by LCC IndiGo, with the remaining chunk going to the Tata group of airlines (including Air India, Air India Express and Vistara).
[Featured Photo: Akasa Air ]
