Billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's upcoming Akasa Air on Tuesday placed an order for 72 Boeing's 737 Max aircraft at the Dubai aeroshow. The stock market maverick's airline aims to build upon its fleet to serve the rapidly growing Indian market through this order.
The order includes two variants from the 737 Max family, the 737-8 and the high-capacity 737-8-200.
The new 737 MAX airplane will support the aim of running not just a cost-efficient, reliable and affordable airline, but also an environmentally friendly company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies, said the Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube.
He also said that India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world with unparalleled potential. He added that the aviation industry is already witnessing a strong recovery and that it has decades of growth ahead of them.
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The carrier plans to offer commercial flights starting in the summer of 2022 and use its new fleet of 737s to meet the growing demand across India.
As per Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 737 MAX family delivers superior efficiency, flexibility and reliability while reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by at least 14 per cent compared to airplanes it replaces.
The Boeing's 2021 Commercial Market Outlook had cited that India's growing economy and expanding middle class will fuel strong demand for commercial flights, driving the need for more than 2,200 new airplanes in South Asia valued at nearly $320 billion over the next 20 years.
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"The 737 MAX, with its optimized performance, flexibility and capability, is the perfect airplane to establish Akasa Air in the Indian market and ensure it effectively grows its network," said Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO.
