India’s new low-cost airline Akasa ready for launch

Indian billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala backed private airline Akasa Air will take to the skies from August 7, 2022. The low-cost carrier will start operations with 28 weekly flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. A week later, from August 13, it will start an additional 28 weekly flights between Bengaluru and Kochi. All flights are open for sale with immediate effect. According to Akasa website their one-way Mumbai-Ahmedabad fares start from Rs 3,948.
 
This launch marks the re-entry of Indian aviation industry veterans like Vinay Dube, who has headed Jet Airways and then GoAir and Aditya Ghosh, former president of IndiGo, into the airline business. Akasa is the brainchild of Vinay Dube.
 
Initially, the airline had planned to start operations in July end by when it expected to get two Boeing 737 MAX. But a slight delay in getting the second aircraft meant the launch was deferred by about a week. The airline has ordered 72 B737 MAX and it hopes to have 20 aircraft in its fleet - if Boeing is able to deliver as per schedule - by next summer after which it can start international flights.
 
Akasa Air co-founder and chief commercial officer Praveen Iyer said the “network strategy is focused on establishing a strong pan-India presence and providing linkages from metro to tier 2 and 3 cities across India”. Akasa B737 MAX will have USB ports along with “Boeing Sky Interior” - highlighted by modern sculpted sidewalls, window reveals and mood lighting.