Akasa Air Adds Aircraft and Expands Key Domestic Routes

Akasa Air Expands Fleet and Adds New Domestic Sectors

India’s youngest low-cost airline, Akasa Air, is entering a new phase of growth in 2025, backed by a strong domestic recovery and consistent passenger demand. The airline has announced a fleet expansion plan that includes the induction of its 50th aircraft and a broader route network connecting both metro and Tier-2 cities across the country.

This expansion marks an important milestone for Indian aviation, as Akasa positions itself as a major player in both the low-cost and regional connectivity markets.

🛫 Fleet Growth and Strategy

In early 2025, Akasa Air received approval for the next batch of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, bringing its total operational fleet to over 50 aircraft. The airline aims to grow its fleet to 76 aircraft by March 2026, a figure that places it among India’s fastest-growing carriers.

The addition of fuel-efficient aircraft has allowed Akasa to:

Reduce per-seat operational costs

Expand into underserved airports

Increase flight frequencies on key business corridors

🗺️ New Domestic Routes Introduced

As part of its Q2 and Q3 rollout, Akasa has launched or resumed services on the following sectors:

Route

Frequency

Notes

Hyderabad – Varanasi

Daily

Pilgrimage + business demand

Bengaluru – Jodhpur

4x weekly

Tourism and SME traffic

Pune – Lucknow

Daily

Growing Tier-2 connectivity

Ahmedabad – Bhubaneswar

3x weekly

Regional development push

Mumbai – Bagdogra

Daily

Summer leisure season spike

These sectors reflect a clear trend: growing demand from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and a shift away from purely metro-centric operations.

💺 Competitive Positioning in 2025

Akasa’s growth comes at a time when IndiGo dominates the low-cost segment, and Air India is rebuilding under Tata Group leadership. However, Akasa’s advantage lies in:

• Route selection: Strategically picking underserved city pairs

• On-time performance: Maintaining reliability as a brand differentiator

• Pricing strategy: Staying competitive with LCCs while offering a no-frills experience
  As of April 2025, Akasa has achieved an impressive load factor of over 85%, indicating strong seat occupancy and demand traction.

🧭 Wider Implications for Indian Aviation

The airline’s expansion highlights broader shifts in Indian air travel:

1. Tier-2 City Focus

With infrastructure improving under the UDAN scheme, more airlines are prioritizing non-metro city links. Cities like Ranchi, Jodhpur, and Varanasi are seeing increased connectivity.

2. Fleet Modernisation

Akasa’s use of newer, more efficient aircraft sets a precedent. Other carriers may follow with updated orders, impacting fuel economics and fare structures.

3. Short-Haul Growth

Most of Akasa’s routes are within the 1.5–2.5-hour range, meeting strong demand for domestic weekend getaways, SME travel, and religious tourism.

🧳 Passenger Trends Shaping Route Selection

Passenger booking trends in Q1–Q2 2025 show rising interest in:

• Affordable leisure travel: Summer months are driving traffic to Bagdogra, Srinagar, and Port Blair

• Pilgrimage sectors: Routes to Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Tirupati are seeing year-round growth

• Event-based travel: New flight timings are being planned around religious and cultural festivals
  Akasa appears to be leveraging these patterns by aligning its new routes with peak seasonal and cultural demand periods.