Akasa Air places order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft

Akasa Air, India’s newest airline, has placed orders for 150 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, a record for an India carrier with just 17 months of operational life.

The airline is acquiring 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets under the orders placed at WINGS India 2024 event being held at Hyderabad.

The order will provide the airline with a steady stream of aircraft delivery through 2032, cementing the company’s domestic and international expansion plans.

Akasa Air already operates a fleet of 22 aircraft and the latest order will take its fleet size to 226. “This landmark aircraft order is a testimony of the airline’s solid financial foundation and showcases Boeing’s confidence in Akasa Air’s future,” says a company release.

“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”, Vinay Dube, founder and CEO, Akasa Air, said

Akasa Air placed its first order for 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2021, and followed it up with an order for 4 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in June 2023. This new deal in January 2024, takes the airline’s order book to an impressive 226 aircraft. 

Akasa Air currently operates a fleet of 22 aircraft and will receive deliveries of a total of 204 aircraft over the course of eight years. 

Akasa Air said the new order is in line with the airline’s commitment to sustainability - the 737 MAX family provides greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20 per cent compared to those it replaces. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter airplane with a 50 per cent lower noise compared to other aircraft. The 737 MAX family also provides the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle airplane as well as high dispatch reliability and enhanced passenger experience. 

Akasa Air has tried to distinguish itself by offerings inflight meal service (Café Akasa), pet carriage policy as well as warm service delivered on ground and inflight. 

Akasa Air has established a strong presence connecting metros with tier 2 and 3 cities across the country, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair and Ayodhya. 

As the airline plans to expand its footprint in India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.