CAN INDIA'S YOUNGEST AIRLINE SURVIVE ITS AMBITION?

When Akasa Air took off in 2022, it promised to rewrite the rules of Indian aviation-lean, modern, investorbacked, and aggressively ambitious. Positioned as a nimble disruptor in a crowded sky, the airline quickly captured market attention with rapid route expansion and a bold all-Boeing fleet strategy. Yet, as Akasa enters its third year, the narrative has grown more complex.

- NIDHI SHARMA

When Akasa Air burst onto India's India's vibrant aviation scene in August 2022, it was heralded as a fresh force in the booming aviation sector. Backed by the late billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and founded by industry veteran Vinay Dube, the airline promised 'democratic flying experience' with bold plans for rapid expansion, cost leadership, and a huge fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by 2032, a feat that would place it firmly among the world's major carriers.

For investors, Akasa Air represents both a high-growth opportunity in India's underpenetrated aviation sector and a cautionary tale about single-supplier dependency, internal risk controls, and scaling beyond operational bandwidth. It is now supported by investors like Azim Premji and Ranjan Pai.

Just three years in, Akasa Air has captured nearly five per cent of domestic market share, flown internationally, and achieved staggering revenue growth. As of April 2025, Akasa Air operates approximately 23 domestic routes and serves 5 international destinations. Akasa currently flies to 23 cities across India, including major metros (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad) and a growing list of Tier II/III cities such as Darbhanga, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Port Blair, Gwalior, and Ayodhya, among others, bringing the count to about 23 domestic destinations. The airline operates five international routes focused on the Gulf/Middle East region: Doha (Qatar), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE), and Kuwait City (Kuwait).

Akasa Air, which commenced operations on August 7, 2022, expects to have more than 30 planes in its fleet by the end of this year and aims for a capacity growth of over 30 per cent in terms of Available Seat Kilometres (ASKS) for the current fiscal ending March 2026.Currently, the carrier has 30 aircraft.