India’s newest airline, Akasa Air, has announced that it will be purchasing 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, marking the first major sale for the manufacturer since the recent incident involving a panel on another Max model. CEO Vinay Dube revealed the order at an airshow in Hyderabad, India.
With this purchase, Akasa Air’s total orders with Boeing will reach 226 aircraft. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 22 Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 8-200 planes. It’s important to note that none of the purchased planes will be the same model as the one involved in the recent incident with Alaska Airlines.
Since its launch in 2022, Akasa Air has achieved a 4% market share in India’s domestic market, serving 18 destinations. The airline is now focused on expanding its network within India and South Asia.
Boeing’s Chief Operating Officer, Stephanie Pope, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Akasa Air, stating, “This milestone demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Akasa Air.”
According to Boeing’s 2023 Commercial Market outlook, the South Asian region is expected to receive 2,705 new commercial airplanes over the next two decades, with approximately 90% of them being single-aisle jets.
Popular airlines in India include Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express, and now Akasa Air.