Akasa Air welcomes its 20th aircraft in India...737 - MAX 8 200

Akasa Air has welcomed its 20th aircraft to its fleet becoming the first airline in Asia to add the 737-MAX 8 200 variant. The aircraft has the registration VT YAV, and the airline received the plane directly from Boeing in Seattle, USA on July 28, 2023. The jet arrived in Bengaluru on the morning of 1st August marking a new milestone for the carrier.  

Akasa Air is one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, having reached a fleet size of 20 aircraft within a year of commencing operations. Indian regulations require airlines to have at least 20 aircraft in their fleet to become eligible for international operations and this milestone enables Akasa Air to fly internationally. 

Vinay Dube – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, at Akasa Air, said, “Akasa Air is merely an expression of what India is capable of achieving. Today’s landmark addition to our fleet, heralds the international chapter of growth in Akasa’s story, and makes us extremely optimistic about our future. We are very excited at the prospect of showcasing our unique and distinct service to the world.   Going from 0 to 20 aircraft within 12 months is not just an Akasa record but a record that encapsulates the potential of our great country and one for our whole nation to be proud of” 

“I am particularly gratified in the way our airline has grown. The unprecedented pace of our expansion is fuelled by the passion of our employees, who strive to make air travel increasingly accessible and reliable. We have recorded the highest on-time performance for several consecutive months in 2023 and are especially proud to have achieved this milestone without compromising on our unflinching commitment to service leadership”, Vinay added.  

The Boeing 737- MAX 8 - 200 aircraft aligns with Akasa Air’s continued efforts to control operating costs while enhancing the customer experience.  In addition to being the most environmentally progressive aircraft, the best-in-class legroom complements Akasa Air’s commitment towards building an airline that is customer obsessed, economically sustainable and socially responsible. 

Boeing says the 737 MAX family of jets provide greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to those it replaces. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter aeroplane with a 50% smaller noise footprint than replacement aeroplanes. 

The type has had a troubled beginning, two fatal crashes costing the lives of all onboard led to a grounding of the type for nearly 2 years and a further series of design, technical and mechanical issues have caused delays and extra costs to both Boeing and customer airlines. 

Since launching commercial operations in August 2022, Akasa Air has been the fastest-growing airline in India. Today it has a fleet of 20 aircraft and has thus far carried over 4 million revenue passengers and crossed the milestone of operating over 900 weekly flights with a published network of 35 unique routes connecting 16 Indian cities.