Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-Backed Akasa Airline Expects Test Flight Next Week

Rakesh Jhunjunwala's Akasa Air: Akasa has a pilot training center of its own in Delhi and on top of cabin crew has hired more than 100 pilots in preparation for the start of commercial services.

Akasa, India's newest airline, will conduct a proving flight with the country's Directorate General of Civil Aviation as early as next week as it looks to start commercial services by around the end of July, Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube said Friday.

Akasa, backed by billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, will likely receive its air operator's certificate within days of the proving flight, apply for airport slots and start to sell tickets within a two to three week period, Vinay Dube said in an interview at the startup airline's office in Mumbai.

The value carrier's first routes will be domestic, with a focus on point-to-point services. International flights are on track to start in the second half of 2023, said Vinay Dube, a former Delta Air Lines Inc. veteran who also ran Jet Airways India Ltd.

"We don't believe in the hub concept. Akasa's network will be focusing on flights from Indian metro cities to tier two and tier three cities," Vinay Dube said.