Akasa’s fleet comprises exclusively of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which boasts a range of 3,550 nautical miles (6,570kms). This opens up plenty of opportunities for the startup carrier, from Seoul in the east to Prague in the west.
Akasa is going for the most popular Indian markets. While the carrier has declined to offer detailed plans of its international routes, mainly due to regulatory permissions and route allowances, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The Middle East is India’s biggest foreign market, supported by tourism, business, VFR (visiting friends and relatives), and connecting traffic. The UAE is the biggest recipient of travelers from India, a bulk of whom fly to Dubai (DXB), and almost certainly the top destination for Akasa.
The only challenge could be an ongoing talk on traffic rights between India and the UAE, which currently stand nearly exhausted in terms of capacity. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are other popular countries in the region with high chances of seeing early flights.
Singapore is the most popular destination in Southeast Asia for Indians. With plenty of business, tourism, and VFR opportunities, traffic is high for the island country, as is competition. However, there are several key unconnected markets in the region that would benefit as well, such as Indonesia.
Akasa Air has carried over a million revenue passengers, racking up a market share of 3% in the domestic sector as a result. The figure is an impressive feat for the startup, which has adopted an aggressive delivery schedule, with 19 planes already in operation. Keep watching as Akasa continues to grow and fly internationally next.