Akasa Air, an Indian airline that is among the fastest growing in the country, confirmed a new order for 150 737 MAX jets from Boeing.
The agreement, announced at the Wings India 2024 airshow, was already expected and was included in the manufacturer’s backlog in December, but as an undisclosed customer.
According to Boeing, Akasa Air ordered the 737-10 for the first time, the largest variant in the family, with capacity for up to 230 passengers.
The order also includes the high-density 737-8-200, which had already been ordered previously, in 2021.
Akasa Air launched operations in 2022 and currently has a 4% domestic market share in India. It serves 18 destinations with a fleet of 22 737 MAX 8s with varying configurations.
“We are excited to announce this historic order for 150 new Boeing airplanes, increasing our total orders from Boeing to 226 jets. In addition to supporting our rapid domestic expansion, the efficiency and economics of these new airplanes position Akasa to launch international routes in the coming months,” said Vinay Dube, Akasa Air founder and CEO.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Akasa Air and is a testament to the capabilities of the 737 MAX family to further the airline’s operational priorities,” said Stephanie Pope, Boeing Chief Operating Officer.
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The announcement comes amid Boeing’s attempt to respond to criticism about quality problems in the manufacture of 737 MAX jets after an Alaska Air 737-9 model lost a door plug in flight.
The manufacturer announced on Tuesday the hiring of an independent advisor to evaluate the quality control processes in the production of its commercial aircraft.
