Ready to launch
Backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Akasa air is all set to start operations in the last week of July. The pilot training center is setup in Delhi and the company has hired more than one hundred pilots in preparation to start commercial services. .
Akasa India’s newest airline, will be conducting a proving flight with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation next week. It looks to start its operation by the end of July, CEO Vinay Dube said on Friday.
The airline, backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, will receive its operator’s certificate within days of the first proving flight. Post this, they will apply for Airport slots, and start selling tickets with a two to three week period.
About the routes
Akasa air does not believe in hub concept, and will focus on point to point services, starting with the domestic sector first. International routes will commence in the second half of 2023, said Vinay Dube, an ex – Delta Airlines Inc veteran. Akasa air’s flights will focus on flights from India’s metro cities to tier two and three cities.
Future Plans
With aggressive growth plans, Akasa air intends to add 18 aircraft in the year ending Mar’23. The first delivery from a November order for 72 Boeing Co. 737 Max jets. Worth USD $9 billion, these jets are in hand and the airline should take delivery of one to two aircraft each month.
Being competitive in the fares will not be the only area where Akasa air will struggle. In a highly competitive market, having superior customer service and employee centric culture will help boost growth and will be critical to the airline’s long-term success.
India’s demand for air travel will see the airlines gearing up to add upto 120 jets every year just to keep up. While saying this, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the country is now building airports in the smallest of cities, training pilots, crew and improving maintenance facilities.
Akasa Air’s fleet of new aircraft powered by CFM International Inc will have the youngest, greenest fleet in the country. “Akasa will have 15 to 17% fuel efficiency by flying brand new planes with brand new engines. We will get an edge on the cost of fuel owing to the airlines operating procedures and practices”, Vinay Dube quoted.
