- By Aditya Pratap Singh
- Thu, 18 Jan 2024 12:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Akasa Air Aircraft Order: Budget airline Akasa Air ordered 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to strengthen its position in India's aviation market. The newest player in the aviation sector announced the same at the 'Wings India air show in Hyderabad.
Various aircraft manufacturers, airlines and government officials were present at the event.
The new order is part of Akaasa's plan to increase its domestic and international expansion. The ordered Boeing narrow-body aircraft are equipped to fly from India to nearby overseas destinations including Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
According to a report in Bloomberg, It's also the first major order announcement for Boeing's MAX jetliner program since a cabin panel exploded in flight this month.
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Akasa Air currently has 76 aircraft
Akasa currently has a fleet of 76 aircraft. The latest order, which includes 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets, will provide the airline with a consistent aircraft delivery stream until 2032. The airline said it would strengthen the company's domestic and international expansion plans.
According to the statement, AKasa's total order book now stands at 226 aircraft, underpinning its domestic and international expansion plans.
Akasa Air, backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's family, is India's newest airline and has a 4% market share after starting operations in 2022.
IndiGo is the market leader with a market share of 60 per cent, followed by the 26 per cent combined market share of Tata Group airlines.
Akasa Air, founded by former Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dubey, aims to cater to the growing demand for air travel in the country and establish itself as a major player in the budget segment.
The airline currently serves 18 cities across India, including routes like Mumbai-New Delhi, and Mumbai-Ahemdabad and plans to expand its network in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.