Akasa Air is India’s newest national airline, launched on August 7, 2022. The airline currently holds a 5.2% market share in the domestic market (as of October 2025) and operates 30 737 MAX aircraft. The airline placed its first aircraft order at the Dubai Airshow 2021 for 72 Boeing 737-8 and -8-200 aircraft, and later added four more to bring the total to 76 on order. In January 2024, the airline disclosed another 150 737 MAX aircraft orders.
Akasa’s Aircraft Delivery Dry Spell
For a while, Akasa was the fastest airline to scale up. The airline was offered, and it collected over 20 aircraft designated for other airlines and assembled to their specifications. However, the pandemic and the 737 MAX crashes earlier prevented these aircraft from being taken up because either the airlines wound up cancelling orders or they did not place them. In the case of China, there was also an inordinate delay in approvals for the 737 MAX to be delivered to Chinese airlines, which also led Boeing to put the aircraft on the market and win new customers.
Akasa’s speed of aircraft induction, however, has been inconsistent. Take a look at the quarterly dispersion since deliveries started:
- April – June 2022: 1 Aircraft
- July – September 2022: 5 Aircraft
- October – December 2022: 8 Aircraft
- January – March 2023: 5 Aircraft
- April – June 2023: 0 Aircraft
- July – September 2023: 1 Aircraft
- October – December 2023: 2 Aircraft
- January – March 2024: 2 Aircraft
- April – June 2024: 0 Aircraft
- July – September 2024: 1 Aircraft
- October – December 2024: 1 Aircraft
- January – March 2025: 1 Aircraft
- April – June 2025: 2 Aircraft
- July – September 2025: 0 Aircraft
There have been reasons for this, out of Akasa’s Control. Boeing this year, since the blowout of the door on Alaska Airlines 1282, operated on January 5, 2024, has been in the middle of intense scrutiny from the US Government about the practices followed at the Renton plant, where the 737 aircraft are assembled. Within a few days, US regulators placed a cap on Boeing’s production of 737 MAX aircraft at no more than 38 per month until they were satisfied that the quality issues affecting Boeing had been resolved. Boeing took a lot of steps in this direction, and only now is the FAA comfortable handing them back the reins of production.
For Akasa, the seats they intended to use on their line-fit aircraft were not being certified by the FAA, the CEO Vinay Dube had told ETPrime in an interview in November 2025.
Akasa receives 737 MAX 200
Earlier this week, Akasa Air received delivery of its 31st aircraft. Bearing registration number VT-YBH, the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on December 10, 2025.
Akasa Air’s 31st Boeing 737 MAX aircraft
The addition of the 31st aircraft represents one of the first aircraft purpose-built to Akasa’s specifications, equipped with Safran Z200 seats, a next-generation seating solution designed to elevate the in-flight experience. These seats feature a generous 4-inch recline, an ergonomically contoured backrest, enhanced cushioning for superior comfort, and USB-C and USB-A ports.
Akasa Air’s 31st Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with Safran Z200 seats
In addition to their passenger-centric design, these seats align with Akasa’s sustainability and reliability goals using ultra-modern materials and construction techniques.
Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air, said,
Every addition to our fleet represents much more than capacity; it reflects our ongoing promise to offer the highest levels of service – comfortable, modern and uniquely warm. The induction of our 31st aircraft is another meaningful step forward in Akasa’s journey to build a world-class airline rooted firmly in the evolving expectations of today’s Indian traveller.
This aircraft has been built to our specifications, gleaned from listening keenly to what truly matters to Indian flyers. Enhanced cushioning is a transformative enhancement for those who need better support to safeguard their backs through long and frequent journeys. Likewise, the inclusion of both USB-C and USB-A ports recognises the multigenerational reality of our passengers’ digital lives, ensuring that no traveller is left disconnected. Each of these features embodies our commitment to designing comfort that is not performative, but genuinely responsive to the lived experiences of our customers- a commitment that our passengers consistently acknowledge and value.
Service excellence and customer experience remain at the heart of our philosophy, and we will continue to invest in technology, comfort and operational excellence as we scale to meet India’s growing travel demand.’
Akasa Air’s steady and impressive growth stands as a testament to the energy, ambition and dynamism of the Indian aviation sector. With 31 aircraft now inducted since commencing operations in August 2022, the airline has a pipeline of 195 additional aircraft. Akasa has another seven aircraft ready at Boeing’s facilities, and these should come to the airline pretty quickly from here on. About another 3-4 aircraft are expected to join in quick succession.
Bottomline
Akasa Air has received its first line-fit aircraft with the Safran Z200 seat, which it intends to fit on the upcoming aircraft. This also signifies that the airline will now receive a steady pipeline of ready aircraft, since the certification issues are resolved and the airline is in a position to receive and induct these aircraft on an ongoing basis.
What do you make of Akasa’s induction of the new aircraft?
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