Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-owned Akasa Air's first commercial flight on August 7; booking opens for these 2 routes

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-owned Akasa Air will launch commercial flights from August 7, the company said in a statement on Friday. The first service will be on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. The airline will use Boeing 737 Max aircraft for the operations.

The airline had earlier this month obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). As per the DGCA rule, the grant of the AOC marks the satisfactory completion of all regulatory and compliance requirements for an airline's operational readiness. Akasa Air tickets 

In a statement, the carrier said it has opened ticket sales on 28 weekly flights it will be operating on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route as well as on 28 weekly flights it will operating on Bengaluru-Kochi route from August 13.

The carrier will launch commercial operations with two 737 Max aircraft. Boeing has delivered one Max plane and the second one's delivery is scheduled to take place later this month.

Praveen Iyer, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, "We kick-start operations with flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, with the brand-new Boeing 737 Max aircraft."

"We will adopt a phased approach to support our network expansion plans, progressively connecting more cities, as we add two aircraft to our fleet each month, in our first year," he added.

Akasa Air, whose airline code is QP, received its first 737 MAX on June 21. By the end of 2022-23 fiscal, the airline will induct 18 aircraft and thereafter 12-14 aircraft every 12 months, which will make up its order of 72 delivered over five years, according to the company.

(With PTI inputs)