India’s startup airline Akasa Air reportedly plans to order up to 80 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on November 11, 2021.
According to the report, the aircraft deal is set to be finalized and announced during the Dubai Airshow 2021, which starts on November 14, 2021.
AeroTime has asked Boeing for a comment.
Akasa Air is an ultra-low-cost carrier backed by Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who is considering investing $35 million with 40% equity in the startup airline and plans to have 70 aircraft over the next four years. Akasa Air aims to start commercial operations from mid-2022.
Akasa Air has reportedly been in talks with Boeing and Airbus to set up its fleet plans. According to a moneycontrol report dated August 2021, the airline was considering the acquisition of 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
In August 2021, India’s aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), ungrounded the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for commercial use. Indian authorities had grounded the Boeing 737 MAX on March 13, 2019, over safety concerns following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.