Akasa Air has expanded its fleet with the addition of Boeing 737 Max 8-200 as its 29th aircraft, with registration number VT-YBG. The first leg of the delivery flight started from Seattle, USA to Keflavik, Iceland, and concluded with the final leg from Kuwait to Bengaluru, India’s youngest airline said in a statement on Monday.
“The latest addition to the fleet aligns with the airline’s growth strategy and long-term commitment to serve the Indian skies,” said Akasa Air.
Akasa Air’s Expansion Dream
The low-cost carrier has planned to increase its aircraft strength to 30 by July this year. The airline is yet to receive 197 more aircraft, the deliveries of which have suffered due to disruption in the global supply chain and eventually resulted in Akasa Air’s expansion plan taking a back seat.
“Boeing bloody ...retarding our speed,” Akasa Air’s co-founder Aditya Ghosh had said, according to Reuters.
The delay in aircraft deliveries has not just taken a toll on Akasa Air’s expansion dream but has left many pilots grounded. Out of 775 pilots that Akasa Air has, only 465 are actively flying, India Today reported. The airline had earlier said that “most of the remaining 300 pilots will also be able to fly by the end of 2025.”
“We just don’t have enough aircraft to fly nobody wants to sit at home and twiddle their thumbs,” Akasa Air’s CEO Vinay Dube had said, according to Reuters.
The newly founded airline has witnessed its passenger traffic more than double over the past year, which has further pushed the demand for more aircraft. But due to supply chain disruption faced by aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, the supply side has failed to match up, slowing Akasa Air’s plan to acquire more market share.
Akasa Air raised $135 million in fresh capital from Premji Invest, Claypond Capital, and funds managed by 360 ONE Asset. The airline has planned to utilise the funds for its growth plans, including expansion and international operations.
“These strategic investments represent a pivotal milestone in our journey and ensure long-term financial stability, enabling us to continue building a sustainable, future-focused business,” Chief Financial Officer, Akasa Air, Ankur Goel said in February this year.
