Budget airline Akasa Air on Friday announced that it will operate its first international flight between Mumbai and Qatar’s capital Doha from March 28.
This makes Akasa Air the first Indian airline to enter international airspace within 19 months of commencing operations. The airline operated its maiden flight on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route on August 7, 2022.
According to government regulations, an airline must have 20 aircraft in its fleet to start international operations. Akasa Air currently has 23 B737 Max aircraft in its fleet and serves 20 cities in India.
Currently, 68 flights a week are being operated by four airlines – Air India, IndiGo, Qatar Airways and Vistara – between Mumbai and Doha due to high demand. According to aviation analysis firm Cirium, IndiGo is the largest player on this route with 14 flights per week. Akasa Air will operate eight flights per week on this route from March 28.
Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Akasa Air, said the introduction of these flights connecting Doha to Mumbai, a major Indian commercial hub, will cater to a “diversified group of travelers from the two countries, making it tourism is facilitated, trade, and strengthening bilateral ties”.
“Our foray into Qatar marks the next phase of growth as we continue our journey to become one of the top 30 airlines in the world by the turn of the century,” he noted.
Akasa Air stated that the launch of flight operations to Qatar is in line with the Qatar Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to make the country the fastest growing tourism destination in the Middle East by 2030.
Last month, Akasa Air placed an order for 150 B737 Max aircraft with Boeing at the Wings India Summit 2024. This order includes the B737 Max 8-200 and the B737 Max 10. These aircraft will be delivered between mid-2027 and 2032. The new order means that Akasa Air has ordered a total of 226 Max aircraft from Boeing to date.
The airline previously ordered 76 Max aircraft. Of these 76 aircraft, 23 have been delivered to the airline. The airline expects delivery of the remaining 53 aircraft by mid-2027.
First print: February 16, 2024 | 5:50 PM IST
