At Paris Airshow 2023, Akasa Air announced its plans for expansion, revealing the acquisition of four additional Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. The airline also stated that it will announce a significant three-digit aircraft order later this year. These four airplanes will be added to the existing order book of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. During the Paris Air Show, Akasa Air expressed their excitement about the purchase, stating on Twitter, “We are thrilled to add four more Boeing 737-8 airplanes to support our international expansion, bringing our initial order to 76 aircraft to be delivered in the next four years.”
Akasa Air Fleet Details
According to the news agency PTI, the airline clarified that this development increases their initial order from 72 to 76 airplanes, including 23 737-8s and 53 high-capacity 737-8-200 planes. This acquisition of four additional 737-8s aligns with Akasa Air’s objective of commencing international operations by the end of 2023 and reinforces their expansion strategy.
Vinay Dube, the founder and CEO of Akasa Air, expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, emphasising the advantages of the Boeing 737-8 aircraft. He stated, “These airplanes not only support our domestic growth but also allow us to leverage the outstanding range of the category-leading 737-8 aircraft as we prepare to enter international routes.”
Dube proudly announced that Akasa Air achieved a remarkable feat by reaching a fleet size of 19 aircraft within a year of operation, setting a significant milestone in the aviation industry’s long history.
Almost a year since the beginning …
Having commenced operations in August of the previous year, Akasa Air currently operates 19 aircraft, with plans to add the 20th airplane to its fleet in July. The airline intends to expand its domestic and regional networks using the efficiency and range of the 737-8, with 20 planes in its fleet by the end of 2023. Their long-term goal is to have a total of 72 aircraft by March 2027, enabling them to serve destinations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other locations. However, discussions with the government regarding potential destinations are still ongoing.
Brad McMullen, Boeing’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, highlighted the significance of Akasa Air’s follow-on order, emphasising the market-leading capabilities of the 737 MAX in the rapidly expanding global commercial aviation market. He stated in a Boeing press release that the 737-8’s efficiency and range perfectly align with Akasa Air’s plans to expand their domestic and regional networks. The press release also revealed that since July 2022, Boeing has received commitments from its customers to purchase over 1,000 of their upcoming commercial aircraft, including more than 750 737 MAX planes.
