India’s Akasa Air to place “substantial” jet order

The CEO of India-based Akasa Air has revealed in an interview that the airline plans to place a large order for new planes.

In an interview with a journalist from Reuters, Vinay Dube explained the budget airline is looking to purchase multiple narrowbody jets.

The inaugural flight of the new Indian low-cost carrier only took place on August 7, 2022, with the airline using two Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 189 single-class seats to on two domestic routes.

Currently the airline has 17 Boeing 737 MAX flying routes with 72 in total set to arrive by March 2027, according to Reuters.

“Before the end of this year we are going to place another aircraft order that is going to be substantially larger than the 72 aircraft order we have placed,” Dube told the news agency.

Dube also confirmed in the interview that the carrier hopes to be flying internationally by the end of the year.

Indian government rules mean airlines can only fly internationally when they reach a fleet of 20 aircraft.

Recently India is seeing exponential growth in aviation with Air India announcing on February 14, 2023, eye-watering orders for new planes.

The airline confirmed it placed a 250-strong order with Airbus and an even larger order with Boeing for 290 planes (if all options are included).

Dube did not confirm whether the orders would be with Airbus or Boeing.