Akasa plans 50 departures from Navi Mumbai: CEO

Mumbai: Akasa Air intends to operate a total of 50 flights from the upcoming Adani-backed Navi Mumbai airport. Initially, the airline will offer around 15 flights that include both domestic and international routes, according to CEO Vinay Dube. The new airport is expected to open by the end of August, although the precise date has not been confirmed. Dube emphasized that Akasa Air will likely have the highest number of flights operating from the airport. “I’m sure there will be other airlines, but I don’t believe any airline in India, or even in the world, will have a greater proportion of their network operating out of Navi Mumbai Airport compared to Akasa,” Dube stated during a virtual press conference on Friday. Arun Bansal, CEO of Adani Airports Holdings Limited, remarked in a press release, “Akasa’s rapid growth and forward-thinking approach make them an ideal partner for NMIA’s journey to becoming a pivotal domestic and international hub.” The budget airline currently operates approximately 32 flights daily from Mumbai. Dube mentioned, “In Mumbai, we currently have around 32 departures, and in Navi Mumbai, we expect to increase that to about 75 to 80 departures as we transition out of the winter season. This is significant for us.” The airline plans to maintain these operations without any intention of consolidating routes, Dube added. Additionally, Akasa aims to enhance connectivity to tier-II cities through its Navi Mumbai operations. Akasa Air is the second airline to enter into a partnership with Navi Mumbai airport. IndiGo was the first to initiate flights from the new airport, planning to commence with more than 18 daily departures across 15 cities on the first day of the airport’s opening, ultimately aiming for 79 departures by November. Akasa Air is set to start with over 100 weekly domestic departures, targeting more than 300 domestic flights and 50 international flights per week by the winter schedule. The airline has plans to expand to 10 parking bases by the conclusion of FY27, prioritizing international growth in key markets throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Dube mentioned that Akasa will feature a combination of prime slots as well as time slots spread throughout the day.

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