DELHI- Akasa Air (QP) is moving towards profitability and plans to expand its international routes to include destinations in South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to Co-Founder Aditya Ghosh.
In less than two years since its launch, Akasa Air has built a fleet of 24 planes and employs over 4,000 people.
Akasa Air International Flights
In an interview with PTI in the national capital, Ghosh, who has held various roles throughout his career, mentioned that airlines are becoming increasingly significant in India’s consumption narrative.
“We will increasingly see airlines as consumer-focused businesses, where insights from e-commerce companies can help us better meet consumer needs and behavior in the transportation sector,” he said.
Among his various roles, he served as IndiGo’s Airlines (6E) President and Whole Time Director for ten years until 2018.
Ghosh emphasized that building a customer-focused and employee-centric organization also requires creating a financially sustainable business. He affirmed that Akasa Air is well on the path to profitability.
“I believe Akasa is on track to profitability. We are steadfastly focused on it. We have achieved greater operational reliability, best on-time performance, lowest customer complaints, highest load factors, and lowest cancellations,” he said.
The airline currently operates a fleet of 24 narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX planes.
More Flights to the Gulf and Southeast Asia
“We have started flying to Doha (DOH), announced flights to Jeddah (JED), and plan to expand to more destinations in the Middle East. We will eventually serve South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities in India, where there is significant potential,” Ghosh said.
The airline will begin flights to Jeddah on July 15 and has traffic rights for Kuwait and Riyadh.
Regarding the possibility of adding wide-body planes to its fleet, Ghosh stated that the most successful business model focuses on maintaining a single type of aircraft.
He explained that this approach ensures high asset utilization and controlled costs, but acknowledged that there is still a market for large full-service carriers.
“At Akasa, we are very focused on a textbook approach, much like Roger Federer or Rahul Dravid—boringly consistent. Do the basics, do them right, and do them consistently,” he noted.
Over the next eight years, the airline expects to add more than 200 aircraft to its fleet, having placed a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX planes.
Ghosh emphasized that there is ample room for well-managed airlines in the market. He believes that the growth and success of an airline in Indian aviation no longer depend on the failure of others.
About Ghosh
On a personal note, Ghosh began his career as a lawyer before moving into the airline industry. He serves on the boards of The ePlane Company, OYO, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, and GreenCell Mobility, among other roles.
Through his venture Homage Ventures, Ghosh has invested in various companies, including indigenous coffee roaster Blue Tokai and healthy food products maker Wholsum Foods.
“I am on a journey in pursuit of excellence, and that excellence extends beyond the businesses I am involved in. I strive to be a slightly better person than I was yesterday,” he remarked.
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Akasa Air to Launch New Flight from Mumbai to Jeddah
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