Akasa Air, India’s low-cost airline, has the potential to revolutionize air travel in the country. As stated by their source, the goal is to provide low-cost flights to those who have never flown before.
Akasa Air – International Travel Plans, Fleet Size
The airline company started selling tickets as of Friday, July 22, 2022. Akasa Air, began commercial flight operations on August 7, 2022 with 28 flights operating every week between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Another route, Kochi-Bangalore was added with 28 flights operating on a weekly basis, from August 13, 2022.
The fleet size of Akasa Air now consists of 2 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and up until March 2023, the company plans to continue adding two of these jets each month. One of the world’s most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly aircrafts is the Boeing 737 Max.
On November 16, 2021, Akasa Air purchased 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at the Dubai Airshow for a total of roughly $9 billion. By the end of March 2023, it expects to operate 18 aircraft on Indian internal routes.
Vinay Dube, the Chief Executive Officer of Akasa Air, has indicated that the company’s goal is to have 18 aircraft by the end of 2022 and to add between 12–14 aircraft each year. He also stated that within the next five years, Akasa Air will have approximately 72 aircraft.
Compared to Akasa Air, Go First has a fleet size of 59 and operates along 39 destinations.
IndiGo, the most successful low-cost airline at this point of time has a huge fleet size of 299 and operates along 99 destinatoins
Air India along with Air India Express, and partners like Vistara, Air Asia India has a fleet size of 233.
SpiceJet has a fleet size of 102 and operates across 53 destinations.
The now resurrected Jet Airways has a fleet size of 8.
The network strategy employed by Akasa Air is centered on the creation of a robust pan-Indian presence and the provision of connectivity between metro areas and tier 2 and tier 3 cities located all over the country. When there are 20 planes in the fleet, the airline plans to begin international operations in the second half of 2023.
Rakesh Jhunjhwala is one of its co-founders and investors. An estimated $35 million has been committed for a 40% interest in the company. Vinay Dube, the former CEO of Jet Airways, will be Akasa Air’s CEO with a 15% ownership.
Akasa Air – Case Study (Low Cost Air Line)
Indigo and Go Air, two of the country’s leading low-cost carriers, have already established themselves in the market. LCC models do well in India’s price-conscious market.
By selling advertising space, charging for unbundled services like baggage, seats, and meals, and lowering ticket rates, they are able to charge lower fees. Maintenance costs are reduced because of one-type aircraft models, and training models are based on a single aircraft.
At a time when ATF prices have risen by 15%, Akasa Air is joining the market. Low ticket prices are not deterring people from flying with Akasa Air, which has a disruptive strategy.
With IndiGO, Tata’s portfolio of airlines like as Air India and low cost variants, Air India Express, Vistara, airAsia India and Go First and Jet Airways and Spice Jet are also in the competition.
Sales of airline tickets will increase, resulting in an expansion of the aviation industry and the creation of new jobs for many people if the price is reduced.
More than 30 to 40 airlines can operate in India, although just 4% of the population has ever taken to the skies.The business model of Akasa Air has immense potential.
Akasa Air airline crew uniform
The airline’s crew uniform, which was widely lauded for its unusual design, was presented in early July 2022. The design of the uniform was influenced by both modern and traditional Indian elements. It was the first airline in India to offer recycled rubber footwear to flight attendants, and it was the first of its kind in the country in general.
Akasa Air vs Indigo – Case Study
There is little doubt that IndiGo, India’s largest airline, would be the airline against which the Akasa Air is compared when the latter take to the skies for the first time on August 7, 2022.
Akasa Air MAX planes are equipped with standard Boeing Sky Interior lighting with LED lighting .The initial 19 planes of Akasa Air has 189 seats, which is three more than what Indigo A320neo has.
Akasa Air’s planes will include USB ports at every seat, making them stand out from the competition. Like Vistara and Spicejet, Akasa Air is open to commencing a streaming service. As of this writing, neither streaming nor USB ports appear to be in the works for IndiGo. USB ports were not included in a statement for its redesigned seats that would be available beginning in January 2023.
Akasa Air Meals vs Indigo Meals
When it come to good inflight meals in low cost airlines, Vistara stands out with good menu of meals. Indians give preference to good meals and drinks on the flight.
Akasa’s menu includes bagels, burgers, sandwiches, rolls, hummus, salads croissants, Vietnamese rolls, tarts, available while booking online. Dessert options are aplenty including baked yoghurt, cheesecake, rasmalai and chocolate truffle, also available by booking beforehand..
There are other options like popcorn, bhel, corn and nuts, along with breakfast options like poha, upma, pasta and biryani. Please be aware that Akasa Air allows passengers to pre-book all of these “gourmet” fares on their website.The alternatives for food that passengers can buy on board are limited to pre-made, ready-to-eat items such as oats, biryanis, noodles, and other similar dishes.
IndiGo has upped its meal quotient by adding samosas, vada and burger and healthier options like museli and oats, in total, 22 new food options have been added.
For complete Indigo Food menu, check this
Akasa Air vs Indigo – Airline Ticket Booking Prices
Reservations can be made using the mobile app, the website (www.akasaair.com), travel agents, and many online travel agencies (OTAs) located all throughout the country. For Indigo, you can go to the website GoIndigo.in website, travel agents and third-party airline website
We did a comparative ticket booking from Indigo website vs Akasa Air and here is what we saw..
For Akasa Air, the price of a seat on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route for August 27, 20222 is 3,945 (Saver) or 4,341. (Flexi, with seat preference, on-board meal and date changes and rescheduling charges). You can take hand baggage equivalent to 7 kgs and checked-in baggage (1 pc up to 15 kgs).The current price for a round-trip ticket on the same day is Rs. 7841
For IndiGo, the price of a seat on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route for August 27, 20222 is 3,945 (Saver) or 4,254. (Flexi, with seat preference, on-board meal and date changes and rescheduling charges). For ‘EzCancel’ with full refund option, the price is Rs. 4470 which is lower than Akasa Air, You can take hand baggage equivalent to 7 kgs and checked-in baggage (1 pc up to 15 kgs).The current price for a round-trip ticket on the same day is around 7890.
Akasa Air vs Rival Airlines (Case Study)
Low cost airlines make money by tying up with other brands and adverting, because they charge low price for air tickets. For hotels, it has agreements with Vernost and Avis. For tailor-made travel experiences. Akasa Air has partnered with TripAdmit and TripFactory.
Nearly 550 routes are serviced by IndiGo in India, which is more than double the number of routes provided by any other airline operating in the nation.
Air India and SpiceJet are two of the largest airlines in the country, operating on over 270 routes each. On July 22, Akasa Air began accepting reservations for flights that would travel between Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kochi.
IndiGo has been a clear leader in air travel with no clear competitor. Tata has just joined the fray but its low-cost partners like Air Asia have not really made any headway in terms of adding value-addition to its patrons. Go First is a competition but it is still cash-strapped and is looking for picking funds from the market by going the IPO route. Spice Jet, the largest national carrier with respect of number of airplanes is weighed under debt problems and management trouble. All eyes are on Akasa which seems to have a clear roadmap to beat competition.