Akasa Air celebrated a significant milestone as an all-women pilot crew brought home its 25th Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Captains Bhavna Gandhi and Sanaya Chothia led the delivery flight, which commenced in Seattle, USA, on 9th September 2024. The aircraft, bearing the registration number VT-YBB, completed its journey through Keflavik, Iceland, and Larnaca, Cyprus, before landing at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on 12th September 2024.
Since its inception in August 2022, Akasa Air has rapidly emerged as the fastest-growing airline in the history of global aviation. This growth is highlighted by its significant fleet expansion, starting with an initial order of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2021, followed by an additional order of four Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in 2023. In January 2024, the airline placed a landmark order for 150 more Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, making it the first Indian airline to amass an order book of 226 aircraft within just 17 months of operation.
Indian airlines carried 1.31 crore passengers in August, marking a 5.7 per cent increase from the previous year. Flight delays affected 1,79,744 passengers, with airlines spending INR 2.44 crore on facilitation. IndiGo led market share at 62.4 per cent, while SpiceJet’s share dropped to 2.3 per cent. Akasa Air topped On Time Performance at 71.2 per cent.
With 25 aircraft now delivered, Akasa Air is on track to receive another 201 aircraft over the next eight years, further solidifying its ambitious vision to be a carrier that transcends generations. This milestone puts the airline on course to rank among the top 30 airlines globally by the end of the decade.The recent delivery flight underscores Akasa Air’s commitment to diversity in aviation. By empowering women in leadership roles within the flight deck, the airline continues to champion inclusivity and representation within the industry. Akasa’s CEO Vinay Dube said, “The arrival of this aircraft is not only a testament to our continued growth but also to our commitment to empowering women in aviation. We are proud to have an all-women crew bring home our 25th aircraft.”
In addition to diversity, sustainability remains a core pillar of Akasa Air’s operations. The Boeing 737 MAX is 20 per cent more fuel-efficient and produces 40 per cent less noise than the aircraft it replaces. These advancements align with Akasa’s long-term sustainability goals, as the airline continues to prioritise environmental responsibility alongside its rapid growth.
Since launching its operations, Akasa Air has served over 11 million passengers and expanded its network to 27 cities across India and the Middle East, including major hubs like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and international destinations such as Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait. The airline’s swift expansion, coupled with its fleet modernisation efforts, positions it as a leader in India’s aviation landscape.
