Akasa Air Grounds Pilots Amid Slow 737 MAX Deliveries
Indian low-cost carrier Akasa Air is facing operational challenges as it grounds hundreds of pilots due to a slowdown in Boeing 737 MAX aircraft deliveries during 2024. According to reports by The Hindu, about 400 out of the carrier’s 850 pilots have been grounded, as the current flight demand requires only 60% of the pilot workforce to operate its fleet of 26 aircraft. This significant reduction in flying personnel is directly linked to the delays in new aircraft deliveries, which have already affected the airline’s recruitment and training processes.
The grounded pilots, who are not currently flying, are reportedly receiving only 50% of their income. While over 60% of the pilots in active service are accumulating valuable flying hours, this leave of absence has raised concerns among new recruits and existing staff. Post-joining training programs—initially set for one year—have now been extended by an additional six months, with insiders speculating that further delays could push training durations even longer. This situation is causing unrest among future pilots worried that the extended training period might delay their career progression and reduce overall income.
Akasa Air’s fleet currently consists of 23 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and three 737-8-800s. However, the carrier is heavily relying on incoming deliveries to expand and replace aging aircraft, having placed substantial orders for future fleet growth. As of now, the airline is awaiting the delivery of 101 Boeing 737-8-800s as well as 99 Boeing 737 MAX 10s, which are yet to be certified. In January 2024 at the Wings India event, Akasa Air placed a sizeable order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to ensure that it meets market demands and further expands its network.
The delivery slowdown in 2024 is particularly striking compared to earlier expectations. At the beginning of the year, Akasa Air had received 22 MAX aircraft, but deliveries slowed considerably with only three additional aircraft delivered later in the year. This deceleration means that by the end of the financial year, Akasa is expected to have received 15 fewer aircraft than originally planned. Earlier, during the third day of the Dubai Airshow 2021, the airline had committed to an order of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and planned to receive these by its fifth year of operation following its inaugural commercial flight in August 2022.
The production and delivery issues are tied to broader challenges faced by Boeing. Deliveries plummeted in 2024 after an incident on January 5, 2024, when a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737. This incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose restrictions on the number of Boeing 737 MAX jets that can be produced each month. Consequently, Boeing had to reassess its quality and safety protocols, inevitably affecting its delivery schedule not only for Akasa Air but also for other carriers relying on these aircraft.
The current challenges underscore the delicate balance airlines must maintain between expanding their fleets and managing operational demands, especially amid stricter regulatory oversight and production constraints at the manufacturing level. For Akasa Air, the delay in aircraft deliveries has a cascading effect: extending pilot training periods, leading to temporary grounding of a substantial portion of their workforce, and potentially impacting service expansion plans. As the airline works closely with Boeing to resolve these issues, stakeholders in the aviation sector will be watching closely to see if future production challenges are mitigated, ensuring that scheduled service, pilot training, and overall fleet expansion proceed as planned.
Related News : https://airguide.info/?s=Akasa+Air