Akasa Air is an Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Operated by SNV Aviation Private Limited, the carrier began commercial operations in August 2022 and is among the newest entrants in India's scheduled passenger aviation sector.
Key facts
| Type | Low-cost carrier |
|---|---|
| Operating company | SNV Aviation Private Limited |
| Commenced operations | 7 August 2022 |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Hubs | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai; Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru |
| Fleet type | Boeing 737 MAX family |
| Founders | Vinay Dube, Aditya Ghosh, with backing from Rakesh Jhunjhunwala |
Background
The airline was conceived in 2021 by a group of aviation industry veterans. Vinay Dube, formerly chief executive officer of Jet Airways and GoAir, was the founding promoter and serves as the chief executive officer. Aditya Ghosh, the former president of IndiGo, joined the venture as a co-promoter and board member. Investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala provided substantial early-stage equity, lending the project significant public visibility before its launch. Following Jhunjhunwala's death in August 2022, his family retained the stake.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted Akasa its no-objection certificate in 2021, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued the air operator's certificate in July 2022.
Fleet and orders
Akasa Air opted for a single fleet type strategy built around the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 8-200. The airline placed a launch order for 72 aircraft with Boeing at the Dubai Airshow in November 2021. A subsequent order announced in January 2024 added a further 150 aircraft of the 737 MAX family, taking the total commitment to over 200 aircraft and making it one of the larger narrow-body orders by an Indian carrier.
Network
The inaugural commercial flight operated on 7 August 2022 between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The network expanded rapidly across Indian metro and tier-two cities, including Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Pune, Hyderabad, Goa, Varanasi and Port Blair. International operations commenced in 2024 with services to destinations in the Gulf region and South-East Asia, including Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
Timeline
- 2021 – SNV Aviation incorporated; investment by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala announced.
- November 2021 – Order for 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft placed at the Dubai Airshow.
- July 2022 – Air operator's certificate granted by the DGCA.
- August 2022 – Commercial operations begin with the Mumbai–Ahmedabad route.
- 2023 – Fleet expands; airline crosses one crore (10 million) cumulative passengers.
- 2024 – International operations launched; second large Boeing order announced.
Significance
Akasa Air's entry came at a time of consolidation in Indian aviation, following the grounding of Jet Airways and the financial difficulties of GoFirst. It is often cited alongside IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and the Tata-owned carriers as part of the post-pandemic restructuring of the Indian commercial aviation market. Its rapid achievement of scheduled commuter and international scope contributed to the broader expansion of capacity in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets.
Related topics
- Aviation in India
- IndiGo
- Air India
- SpiceJet
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation
- Boeing 737 MAX
- Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
References
- Wikidata: Q109536115
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Government of India.
- Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.