Akasa Air to start its operations in 2022, becoming India’s newest airline with a fleet of Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft. The brand was founded by Vinay Dubey, Aditya Ghosh and backed by Late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. The airline ordered 72 Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, an industry first for India, all painted in a new orange-purple livery, along with a range of other industry-first initiatives. A dedicated pet policy to allow travel, a new comfortable and gender neutral dress for cabin crew among other things. Here is an excerpt from our conversation with Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder, CMO and CXO of Akasaa Air.
raft and route
Akasa Air signed an agreement with Boeing Company in 2019 and ordered 72 Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft in a first-of-its-kind deal. Of these, Boeing has already delivered 19 aircraft to the Indian brand, while the 20th is all set to be delivered, all within 8 months of Akasa Air starting its operations. According to Belson, the rest of the aircraft will be delivered in a time frame of 5 years.
As for the routes, Akasaka Air has announced 17 cities where the airline operates out of which 14 are already operational while some of them will be added in a few days. Akasaka Air is also planning to go international with its existing fleet of aircraft by the end of this year. This means that whenever operations resume, they will either fly to the Middle East or Central Asia.
Gender Neutral Cabin Crew Dress
In June 2022, Akasaka Air unveiled airline crew uniforms, becoming the first Indian airline to introduce custom trousers, jackets and sneakers for its in-flight crew. As Belson stated, the idea behind the uniform was to offer a comfortable outfit to its cabin crew, and therefore use a gender neutral design. The fabric of the trousers and jacket has been made exclusively for Akasa Air, using recycled polyester fabric that is made from pet bottle plastics salvaged from marine waste.
The crew’s attire is designed by Rajesh Pratap Singh, the jackets take inspiration from the Indian Bandh Parv. Not only the dress, but the footwear is specially designed for the comfort of the cabin crew who stand for long hours. The Vanilla Moon designed sneakers have extra cushioning from heel to toe and the sole of the sneakers is made of recycled rubber and is manufactured without any use of plastic.
dedicated pet policy
In October 2022, Akasa Air became the first Indian airline to roll out a dedicated pet policy, allowing pet dogs and cats in the cabin as well as in cargo. Speaking on this, Belson said that each pet has to be in a cage and fall under the weight limit. According to the rules, if the weight of your pet is less than 7 kg, then it can travel in the cabin of the aircraft. Pets between 7-32 kg must be checked in at the counter after security screening and pets over 32 kg must be shipped through the cargo terminal.
“We had a lot of pet lovers…we all believe we need an inclusive environment for pets as well. It (the decision) comes from our love for pets,” Coutinho said. ” He added that the airline has partnered with an NGO to provide information on carrying pets, such as how to prepare and do’s and don’ts for pet owners.
Akasa Cafe
Talking about Cafe Akasaa, which is Akasaa Air’s in-flight catering service, Belson said the airline offers a wide choice of fusion food, agro-inspired and plant-based offerings, pastas, Vietnamese rice rolls, hot chocolates, and more. Provides menu options. and a year-round festival menu inspired by Indian cuisine and celebrations. Akasa Air’s perishable food packaging is ethically sourced from sustainably grown crops.
In addition, these meals are only available on pre-booking and a festive season menu is also offered from time to time in addition to the regular menu. However, regular food options are also global cuisine, including Middle Eastern falafel platters, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, continental bagels, burgers and sandwiches, Insta-friendly salads, and a variety of pies, cakes, and puddings.