Akasa Air’s all-female pilot crew, Captain Bhavna Gandhi and Captain Sanaya Chothia, bring home Akasa Air’s 25th aircraft.
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Akasa Air celebrated a major milestone as an all-female pilot crew took home its 25th Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Captains Bhavna Gandhi and Sanaya Chothia led the delivery flight, which began in Seattle, USA, on September 9, 2024. The aircraft, registration number VT-YBB, completed its journey through Keflavik, Iceland, and Larnaca, Cyprus, before landing at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on September 12, 2024.
Since its founding in August 2022, Akasa Air has quickly become the fastest growing airline in the history of global aviation. This growth is highlighted by significant fleet expansion, starting with an initial order of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2021, followed by an additional order of four Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in 2023. In January 2024, the airline placed a landmark order for Another 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, making it the first Indian airline to amass an order book of 226 aircraft within just 17 months of operations.
With 25 aircraft delivered, Akasa Air is on track to receive a further 201 aircraft over the next eight years, further strengthening its ambitious vision to be an airline that transcends generations. This milestone puts the airline on track to become one of the top 30 airlines in the world by the end of the decade. The recent delivery flight underlines Akasa Air’s commitment to diversity in aviation. By empowering women in leadership roles within the cockpit, the airline continues to champion inclusivity and representation within the industry. Akasa CEO Vinay Dube said: “The arrival of this aircraft is not only a testament to our continued growth, but also to our commitment to empowering women in aviation. We are proud to have an all-female crew bringing home our 25th aircraft.”
In addition to diversity, sustainability remains a core pillar of Akasa Air’s activities. The Boeing 737 MAX is 20 percent more efficient and produces 40 percent less noise than the aircraft it replaces. This progress is in line with Akasa’s long-term sustainability goals, as the airline continues to prioritize environmental responsibility alongside its rapid growth.
Since launching its operations, Akasa Air has served more than 11 million passengers and expanded its network to 27 cities in India and the Middle East, including major hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and international destinations such as Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi and Kuwait. The airline’s rapid expansion, coupled with its efforts to modernize its fleet, positions it as a leader in the Indian aviation landscape.
