Akasa's B737 lands in India, take off in July

NEW DELHI: Billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa will take to the skies from next month-end and ticket sales could begin by early July. The budget carrier's first Boeing 737 Max landed in Delhi on Tuesday, which will be used to perform proving flights to get the air operator permit (AOP, or licence).
"We will start operations with two aircraft. Proving flight is expected in next week and the AOP expected in a fortnight," Akasa founder, MD & CEO Vinay Dube said on Tuesday. The airline expects to have 20 B737 Max by next summer and will then begin international flights in the second half of 2023. Akasa has ordered 72 B737 Max. It will get 18 of those by March and the rest over four years.