However, the man behind Akasa — founder, MD & CEO Vinay Dube — says the airline “has some surprises that go beyond anybody else in our category” in store for a comfortable journey which will be revealed later.
“We are going to get our first Boeing 737 Max in the second half of April and our first commercial flight should be in May-end or early June. By the end of March 2023, Akasa should have 18 aircraft. Post that over the next four years we will induct 12-14 Max annually, taking our fleet to (the ordered) 72,” Dube, an aviation veteran who has held top positions with Jet Airways, GoAir and many big foreign airlines. Recruitment of personnel like pilots, cabin crew and airport staffers has begun.
The airline, which has former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh as co-founder, will have a fleet of 20 aircraft by next summer. It will immediately apply for rights to fly abroad on meeting the 0/20 rule (no age bar but having a minimum fleet of 20 planes) and start flying overseas to places like Gulf, SAARC and Southeast Asia as soon as it gets the permission to do so.
A final call on onboard WiFi is yet to be taken and in-sea charge will be “disclosed over time”.
“Our focus will always be on the customer. We will always be very warm, courteous and efficient in the way we serve them. We will use data and analytics for speedier processes.”
While Akasa’s head office will be in Mumbai, the airline is in talks with various airport operators to decide its primary hub depending on availability of check-in counters, parking slots and office space being offered. “Where we see our niche is flying between metros and tier 2/3…