According to the news agency PTI, Akasa Air plans to hire approximately 1,000 new employees, bringing the total workforce to over 3,000 by the end of March 2024. CEO Vinay Dube told PTI that the seven-month-old airline, which began operations in August 2022, will expand into new routes and launch international flights by the end of 2023. The foreign locations have yet to be determined.
According to Dube, a ‘three-digit aircraft order’ will be placed by the end of the year. Along with the 19 Boeing 737 Max aircraft already in service, Akasa Air is expanding its fleet by 72 more, which are expected to arrive in early 2027. After its induction in April, the 20th Boeing 737 Max will be ready for overseas operations.
The airline will add nine more planes in the coming fiscal year, bringing the total fleet size to 28. Duba stated that the airline will increase daily flight operations to 150 from the current 110 (in 17 domestic routes) by the end of the summer, emphasizing that the company focuses on consistent growth rather than “growth for the sake of growth.”
The 2,000-person workforce will grow to 3,000 by the end of the fiscal year, with 1,100 pilots and flight attendants included, according to Dube. The airline always hires in advance for aircraft that will begin operations in three months. In response to hiring challenges following Covid-19, Dube stated that Akasa Air has tapped ‘good talent’ and will continue to focus on employees to retain it.
Dube explained the airline’s three focal points, saying that it only wants to ensure customer and employee satisfaction sustainably through a robust pricing system. This is possible because the company, which bills itself as “India’s most dependable airline,” isn’t looking for market clout or top positions in the aviation industry, he says.
Akasa Air is in discussions with the civil aviation ministry to map out available routes and traffic rights to begin international operations. Dubai revealed, without naming the countries, that the airline was interested in both the east and west. “… we may want to fly to X cities, and there may be traffic rights available for that country, but you may not have slots at that particular airport.” “All of these permutations and combinations are currently being worked on,” he told PTI.
Dube was pleased with the achievements of the country’s newest airline, which took 3% of the domestic market share in February this year by flying 3.61 lakh passengers. According to the most recent official data, its on-time performance is 87%.
