New Delhi: Billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed airline firm Akasa Air is all set to launch its services in India. To begin operations, Akasa Air has placed an order with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing for 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. These 72 aircraft will be part of Akasa Air’s initial fleet.
These 72 Boeing 737 MAX jets are valued at around $9 billion at list prices, according to Reuters.
In a joint statement, Akasa Air and Boeing shared, “Akasa Air’s order includes two versions of the 737 MAX family, the 737-8 and the higher-capacity 737-8-200.” According to reports, Akasa Air is planning to introduce pan-India flights from the summer of 2022.
The mega order comes a month after the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) to Akasa Air to start operations. The proposed airline venture had applied for NOC, AOP (Air Operator Permit) and other permits from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
However, there are several steps to get the overall approval for starting an airline venture in India.
First, the proposed entity receives an NOC by the MoCA, followed by a security background check, then an AOP is issued and thereafter the airline’s technical feasibility receives a security clearance.
The airline venture is partly funded by stock market owner Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, while former Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dubey will manage the airline. Jhunjhunwala will be represented on the board of the proposed airline by former IndiGo boss Aditya Ghosh.
“We are already seeing a strong improvement in air travel, and we look forward to decades of growth ahead of us,” Vinay Dubey, chief executive of Akasa Air, said at the Dubai Airshow.
According to the information, two variants are included in the order of Akasa – 737-8 and high capacity 737-8-200.
“We are delighted to partner with Boeing for our first airplane order and thank them for their trust and confidence in Akasa Air’s business planning and leadership team,” Dubey said.
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