Akasa's supply chain woes
Cruising Heights|May 2023
The new kid of the block, Akasa Air, has hit a roadblock with delayed deliveries from Boeing thanks to assembly line issues. The airline that has had a smooth start is already juggling with a fleet that is vastly non-uniform thanks to supply chain issues and Akasa's willingness to accept whitetails that were configured differently.
AMEYA JOSHI
Akasa's supply chain woes
 

Akasa Air closed Q1 of 2023 with a market share of 3 per cent, with March seeing the airline record 3.3 per cent market share. At this share, it is currently half of SpiceJet. The airline, which intended to induct 18 aircraft by the end of March, now has 19 in its fleet. Even before the airline took to the skies, the airline was being compared with IndiGo, largely because of Aditya Ghosh- who was also part of the startup team at IndiGo. Aditya later took over as president and whole-time director at IndiGo, before leaving to pursue other opportunities.

There are some other similarities as well. Both airlines had their first flight in August IndiGo started operations on August 4, 2006, while Akasa Air started operations on August 7, 2022. The airline has 19 aircraft in its fleet as of now. In comparison, IndiGo ended its first financial year with 8 A320neo aircraft and a market share of 2.6 per cent. However, the market has changed by leaps and bounds. What needed eight planes to gain 2.6 per cent now needs 18. A market that had 305 commercial aircraft in March 2007 has a little over 700 right now.

The comparison from 2006-07 to this year also tells the story of IndiGo's resilient growth. Back then, the industry operated 1,153 domestic departures per day on average, a number that IndiGo alone surpasses daily today. The airline operates to over 76 domestic destinations and over 100 total destinations across the world.

Is the steam running out?

This story is from the May 2023 edition of Cruising Heights.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2023 edition of Cruising Heights.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CRUISING HEIGHTSView All
INDIGO'S WET LEASE GAMBLEAN OPPORTUNITY OR A COST RISK?
Cruising Heights

INDIGO'S WET LEASE GAMBLEAN OPPORTUNITY OR A COST RISK?

IndiGo’s reliance on wet-leased aircraft, including six MAX 8 jets, highlights its efforts to tackle grounded planes and expand capacity. While offering flexibility, this approach poses cost and operational challenges, writes AMEYA JOSHI.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2025
LAST-MILE DELIVERY, AI GOES THE DISTANCE
Cruising Heights

LAST-MILE DELIVERY, AI GOES THE DISTANCE

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising air cargo and last-mile delivery by optimising logistics, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency. Despite challenges, Al-driven solutions promise transformative growth for the cargo industry, writes R CHANDRAKANTH

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2025
TAMIL NADU'S REGIONAL AVIATION SURGE
Cruising Heights

TAMIL NADU'S REGIONAL AVIATION SURGE

Tamil Nadu is set for an aviation boom, with upgrades to key regional airports and plans for new facilities like the Hosur and Parandur airports. These developments aim to enhance connectivity, boost economic growth, and attract trade and tourism across the state, writes RASHEED KAPPAN

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2025
POTENTIAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Cruising Heights

POTENTIAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

Artificial Intelligence promises to transform Air Traffic Management (ATM), improving efficiency, safety, and decision-making. Despite its potential, challenges like regulatory complexities and integration barriers must be addressed, writes DR. S K SARASWATI

time-read
10 mins  |
January 2025
INSIGHTFUL MRO
Cruising Heights

INSIGHTFUL MRO

Predictive maintenance is a clear digital priority for MROs. This transformative approach enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and minimises downtime, addressing evolving challenges in fleet management, writes ATUL CHANDRA

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2025
INDIAN AVIATION'S 2025 TAKEOFF
Cruising Heights

INDIAN AVIATION'S 2025 TAKEOFF

India's aviation sector soared to record-breaking domestic passenger traffic in 2024, highlighting robust growth despite challenges like supply chain disruptions and infrastructure constraints. As 2025 unfolds, transformative fleet expansions, new airports, and regional connectivity initiatives promise unprecedented growth, but questions about profitability and execution remain, analyses AMEYA JOSHI

time-read
8 mins  |
January 2025
HIGH ON HYDROGEN
Cruising Heights

HIGH ON HYDROGEN

Hydrogen fuel presents a transformative opportunity for sus-tainable aviation, offering zero-emission potential. With industry giants like Airbus and Embraer leading advancements, its deployment remains a decade away, observes ATUL CHANDRA

time-read
9 mins  |
January 2025
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF BUSINESS JETS IN AN ENCOURAGING MARKET
Cruising Heights

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF BUSINESS JETS IN AN ENCOURAGING MARKET

India's business jet market is witnessing growth, fueled by rising UHNWIS and increasing private jet demand. Yet, challenges like high operational costs, inadequate infrastructure, and unclear fractional ownership policies hinder its full potential, explains R. CHANDRAKANTH

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
Durable Solutions for Runway Construction
Cruising Heights

Durable Solutions for Runway Construction

Durable runway and highway construction can be achieved by promoting advanced solutions like Performance Grade (PG) binders and leveraging NABL-accredited laboratories to design pavement that can withstand the challenges of aggressive climatic conditions and heavy traffic loads. This ensures long-lasting, climate-adaptable, ESG-compliant, and sustainable infrastructure while advocating for policy changes and innovation. In this interaction with SUBHENDU KUNDU, General Manager of Marketing & Branding of Hindustan Colas, these pressing issues and forward-looking solutions are discussed in detail.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024
BEYOND FUNCTIONALITY DESIGNING AIRPORTS FOR EXTENDED PASSENGER STAYS
Cruising Heights

BEYOND FUNCTIONALITY DESIGNING AIRPORTS FOR EXTENDED PASSENGER STAYS

Airports today are redefining functionality with immersive designs that blend green aesthetics, local culture, and retail-focused layouts. By encouraging extended passenger stays, they transform travel into an engaging experience, observes RASHEED KAPPAN

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024