MANY AKASA SETS/MILESTONES IN INAUGURAL YEAR

As it turns one, Akasa is peppy and confident and getting ready to fly overseas. AMEYA JOSHI dissects the last 12 months and what is in store ahead.

- AMEYA JOSHI

Among the swiftly developing airlines within the extensive 120-year chronicles of global aviation, Akasa Air emerged as a standout example as it became the first airline to reach 20 aircraft within a year of operation.

The inception of Akasa Air originated in 2020 when industry expert Vinay Dube joined forces with stock market investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. Drawing upon his extensive background in renowned companies such as American Airlines, Sabre, Delta, Jet Airways, and Go First, Dube envisioned establishing a reliable and cost-effective airline in India. In parallel, Aditya Ghosh, the former President of IndiGo, also became a part of the initiative. This collective effort bore fruit, as the airline was granted a no-objection certificate in October 2021.

Today, India's freshest airline, Akasa Air, is one year old and so far, the going has been great. The airline had even launched a special sale to celebrate its first anniversary and made a significant stride by unveiling the inaugural Boeing 737-8-200 type aircraft in the country. Despite a loss of ₹602 crore, the airline marked this milestone by showcasing its achievements across its social media channels.

With the arrival of VT-YAV, which touched down at Bengaluru Airport on the morning of August 1, Akasa Air's fleet reached the 20 mark. This achievement not only places Akasa Air in the distinguished position of being the first Asian airline to operate the Boeing 7378-200 but also makes it eligible to go international.

Following regulations in the country, airlines must possess a minimum of 20 aircraft in their fleet to meet the eligibility criteria for commencing international operations.