Akasa Air is preparing for an ambitious international expansion, with its first Southeast Asia routes scheduled to take off within the financial year.
This renewed strategy comes as the airline overcomes supply constraints that had previously hampered aircraft deliveries and curtailed its capacity growth. With around five per cent market share in India’s domestic air traffic, Akasa Air is planning to grow its available seat kilometres (ASKs)—a key capacity metric—by 30 to 40 per cent over the coming quarters. The move is being seen as a crucial step in its evolution from a domestic player to a regional contender in Asia’s fiercely competitive aviation landscape. The airline, which exclusively operates Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, had placed orders for over 220 jets in multiple tranches. However, global production slowdowns and technical issues had significantly disrupted delivery schedules. With these hurdles now easing, the airline’s roadmap appears more stable, backed by a recalibrated supply chain and renewed focus on sustainable fleet expansion.
A major highlight of the upcoming expansion is the introduction of services to Southeast Asian destinations, a region that has consistently ranked high in outbound Indian leisure and business travel. The airline has confirmed that several routes to Far East destinations will be announced in the coming months, signalling a shift towards high-demand, short-haul international sectors. Infrastructure developments in India are also playing a pivotal role in enabling this growth. The upcoming Noida International Airport near Delhi and Navi Mumbai International Airport are set to address long-standing slot constraints in India’s two busiest metropolitan hubs. The new terminals, designed with multimodal integration and sustainability in mind, are expected to act as vital growth corridors for expanding airlines. Akasa Air has identified both airports as strategic nodes in its future route network.
What sets this expansion apart is the underlying emphasis on climate-conscious operations. As the aviation industry faces increasing scrutiny over emissions and environmental impact, Akasa Air has embedded sustainability into its operations from fuel-efficient aircraft to potential collaborations with new green airport infrastructure. Its growth story is aligned with India’s commitment to carbon neutrality and cleaner transportation alternatives.
This international push also signals broader changes in India’s aviation sector, which is shifting from a purely domestic growth narrative to one that leverages India’s rising economic influence across Asia. The airline’s expansion will likely stimulate competition on regional routes, lower airfare barriers, and offer more inclusive access to international travel for India’s growing middle class. With supply chain clarity, supportive infrastructure, and an eye on sustainable scaling, Akasa Air’s Southeast Asia entry marks a pivotal moment—not just for the airline, but for India’s aspirations in clean and equitable urban mobility.
