Akasa Air Expanding International Flights to Kenya and Egypt: CEO

Akasa Air plans to explore flights to Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and some other countries, as mentioned by CEO Vinay Dube. The airline, which is three years old, is confident about its Boeing planes’ delivery schedule. Dube emphasized that the international expansion of Akasa Air will continue in the right direction, with plans to announce flights to Sharjah in the near future. The fleet currently consists of 30 Boeing 737 MAX planes, with expectations to add more aircraft this year. Dube mentioned that the airline’s aircraft are capable of reaching various destinations, including East Africa, Mauritius, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and South Asia. The airline currently operates flights to six international cities and 24 domestic destinations. Dube revealed that the Available Seat Kilometres (ASK) is 20% international and 80% domestic, with a target of reaching 30% international by March 2027. The airline plans to resume pilot hiring in 2026, with a need for more pilots expected in the second half of the following year. Akasa Air has a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX planes and plans to establish codeshare and interline partnerships in the upcoming financial year. Dube highlighted the importance of the airline’s growth to attract more partnerships. Additionally, the airline is considering an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the next two to five years. Dube addressed the observations made by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), stating that all concerns have been addressed to the regulator’s satisfaction, ensuring safety compliance. The airline is well-capitalized, having recently secured funding for expansion from investors such as Premji Invest and Claypond Capital.