Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-Backed Akasa Air Takes Delivery Of First Boeing 737 Max
This is the first of the 72 planes Akasa Air has ordered from Boeing Co.
Akasa Air -- backed by billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala -- took delivery of its first aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
With that, India's newest airline is now one step closer towards securing the air operator permit to start operations.
Akasa Air had received the ceremonial keys for the aircraft in Seattle on June 15, according to a statement. This is the first of the 72 planes the airline has ordered from Boeing Co.
"Akasa Air today welcomed the arrival of the first of its 72 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, in the presence of its leadership team," the statement read. "The arrival of our first aircraft... marks an important milestone, bringing us closer to our vision of building India's greenest, most dependable, and most affordable airline," said Vinay Dube, founder, managing director and chief executive of Akasa Air.
Boeing is proud to partner with Akasa Air as they embark on their journey towards making air travel inclusive and affordable for all, said Boeing India President Salil Gupte.
"India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and offers enormous growth and productivity opportunities for the aviation industry," he said. "We're excited that the Boeing 737 Max will help Akasa Air drive efficiencies in business and operations while providing its customers with a superior flying experience."