Akasa Air, the latest entrant in India's aviation sector, on January 18 officially announced the conclusion of a procurement deal for 150 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody aircraft. This substantial order includes a combination of 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets, underscoring the airline's strategic commitment to fostering strong growth in both domestic and international markets.
Akasa Air's latest announcement marks the first significant order for Boeing's MAX jetliner programme following a recent mid-air cabin panel blowout earlier this month.
Akasa said the airline will not take delivery of any MAX 9 planes.
With this announcement, made at an airshow in Hyderabad, Akasa Air achieves a historic milestone by becoming the only Indian airline in the civil aviation history to amass an order book exceeding 200 aircraft within just 17 months of commencing operations. This landmark aircraft order stands as a testament to the airline's robust financial foundation and underscores Boeing's confidence in the promising future of Akasa Air, the airline said in a statement.
Speaking at the Wings 2024 airshow, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO of Akasa Air, said, "This large and historic aircraft order puts Akasa on a path of becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world by the turn of this decade. Akasa’s remarkable growth testifies to the sheer promise that India holds as an aviation market, and we are thrilled to be a part of this journey."
Dube emphasised the strategic significance of the new aircraft additions, saying, "These additions to our fleet will help us bolster the strength of our operations as we expand our footprint and foray into international skies in the very near future."
In 2021, Akasa Air started its aircraft acquisition with an initial order for 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Later, in June 2023, the airline increased its fleet with an additional order for 4 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. With the recent deal in January 2024, Akasa Air's total order now stands at an impressive 226 aircraft. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 22 aircraft and is scheduled to receive deliveries of a total of 204 aircraft over the next eight years.
In line with the airline's commitment to sustainability, the 737 MAX family delivers increased range and fuel efficiency, leading to a 20 percent reduction in both fuel usage and carbon emissions compared to older models. Moreover, the 737 MAX is quieter, with a noise footprint that is 50 percent lower than that of its predecessors, contributing to a quieter aviation environment.
More significantly, the 737 MAX family offers the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle airplane, ensuring cost-effectiveness, along with high reliability and an enhanced passenger experience, the company said in a press release.
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