Akasa Air announced on Thursday that the airline has given order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody aircraft. This step taken by the airline aims to expand its reach in domestic and international operations. The company announced this during the ‘Wings India’ event in Hyderabad.
The ‘Wings India’ event is curated for plane makers, airlines and government representatives. The narrow-body Boeing aircraft ordered by the airline can travel from India to neighbouring overseas locations such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This latest order by the airline of 150 aircraft includes Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets. Akasa Air’s move to make a new order for a significant quantity of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft aligns with the global airline industry’s preparation for the expected upcoming travel boom.
This order reportedly does not include the controversial Max 9 variant of the aircraft grounded by the US aviation regulator indefinitely after a cabin panel broke off in a new jet in mid-flight.
“Akasa currently has a fleet of 76 aircraft. The latest order having 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets will provide the airline with a steady aircraft delivery stream through 2032, cementing the company’s domestic and international expansion plans,” the airline said in a statement.
According to the company’s statement, Akasa’s total order now stands at 226 aircraft, bolstering its domestic and international expansion plans.
Speaking at the event, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO of Akasa Air, said, “This large and historic aircraft order puts Akasa on a path of becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world by the turn of this decade. Akasa’s remarkable growth testifies to the sheer promise that India holds as an aviation market, and we are thrilled to be a part of this journey.”
“Each addition to our fleet brings us closer to our purpose of connecting people, places, and cultures. We are confident in our ability to be able to serve millions of satisfied travellers across the globe as we step into the next phase of our growth”, Dube added.