IndiGo airline stated on October 18, 2025, that it has placed a definitive order to purchase 30 more A350-900 aircraft from Airbus in order to expand internationally. With more than 400 aircraft in its fleet and more than 900 on order, the airline has been expanding its worldwide operations. According to IndiGo’s most recent announcement, which omitted financial information, there are currently 60 confirmed orders for the wide-body A350-900.
A long-term investment given the worldwide supply chain issues that cause shortages and delays in the delivery of new aircraft, the carrier has the right to purchase an additional 40 A350 family aircraft. In addition, the airline and Rolls-Royce have inked a deal for the installation of Trent XWB-84 engines in its fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft.
IndiGo Signed a Contract with Airbus
According to a press statement, the airline has a contract with Airbus that confirms the conversion of 30 of its 70 Airbus A350-900 purchase rights into firm orders. With this, IndiGo doubles its wide-body order from 30 to 60 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the company said in a release. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for these extra 30 aircraft was signed by both parties in June.
The conversion of the Memorandum of Understanding into a firm order for 30 more A350-900s, according to IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers, is evidence of the airline’s faith in the future of Indian aviation and the strategic alliance with Airbus, which is further supported by the successful launch of our long-haul operations.
Elbers said that when these planes are added to our fleet in the upcoming years, they will be crucial in helping IndiGo reach a wider audience and link India with more international locations. Beginning in July, IndiGo began operating long-haul flights using leased wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners. In 2027, the airline anticipates adding its first A350-900 aircraft to its fleet. According to a press release from Airbus, as the economy expands and household incomes rise, international travel is booming in India, the aviation sector with the fastest rate of growth in the world.
Why IndiGo Selected A350-900?
It further stated that the A350 is in a prime position to support the nation’s long-distance travel goals. In the press statement, the aircraft manufacturer stated that although the A320 Family aircraft are helping to democratise air travel in India, the A350 has emerged as the benchmark aircraft to help the Indian carrier realise the full potential of the global market.
In the meantime, information on the Rolls-Royce’s price and engine count was kept secret. The Trent XWB-84 engines provide an amazing 84,000 pounds of thrust, industry-leading fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and exceptional dependability for long-haul operations, according to a different news statement from IndiGo. IndiGo said earlier in the day that it will begin flying narrow-body A321XLR aircraft from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens in January 2026.
Quick Shots
•The
airline now has 400+ aircraft in operation and 900+ on order, solidifying its
position as India’s largest carrier.
•The
new order converts 30 of 70 purchase rights into firm orders, following a
June MoU with Airbus.
•Pieter
Elbers says the deal reflects IndiGo’s confidence in India’s aviation future
and its strategic partnership with Airbus.
•IndiGo plans to use the A350-900s
to expand global connectivity and launch more long-haul international routes.
With immediate effect, Air India would cut its international wide-body flight operations by 15% “at least” till the middle of July. The airline uses its wide-body aircraft to run over 70 foreign flights every day.
Due to a number of variables, such as the closure of numerous nations’ airspace, longer travel times to and from the West, and extra scrutiny of Boeing 787s following the AI 171 incident on 12 June, there are fewer twin aisles available.
Between June 2 and June 17, AI operated 462 flights on its wide-body fleet of Boeing 787s, B777s, and Airbus A350s while cancelling 83 flights during that time. This indicates that, to the inconvenience of passengers, 15.2% of the 545 scheduled flights were cancelled.
AI has thereby reduced wide-body flights by 15% by using that ratio and matching schedules to actual flying capacity. Even though the introduction of new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus has been much slower than expected, AI has overextended itself in the last two years in terms of crew and equipment by drastically increasing flights.
Therefore, if an aircraft was grounded or delayed, it affected the flight it was scheduled to conduct next. Since the DGCA ordered additional checks of B787 Dreamliners last Thursday, this has gotten worse.
Enhanced Safety Check on Boeing 777 Fleet
In a statement released on June 18, AI stated that the 15% reduction essentially increases the number of reserve planes available to handle unforeseen interruptions and will help it guarantee operational stability, improve efficiency, and limit passenger discomfort.
The airline has said that it will conduct more thorough safety inspections on its fleet of Boeing 777s. Even if the capacity reduction occurs during the busiest travel season, the airline will at least be able to notify customers in advance that their flights would be cancelled and use AI to assist them in finding other arrangements.
According to AI’s statement, the investigative authorities are still working to determine what caused the (AI 171) accident. The DGCA had ordered AI’s fleet of B787-8/9 aircraft to undergo “enhanced safety inspections”.
Inspections on 26 of the 33 B787s have already been finished and are approved for service; the remaining B787s will undergo inspection in the next several days. The fact that 26 aircraft have received clearance demonstrates our commitment to safety protocols.
Ongoing Middle East Situation Also Adding Pain to the Agony
The statement also stated that AI’s top priority is still ensuring the safety of its passengers, crew, and aircraft, and it will continue to work with authorities to do so.
AI added that there have been some disruptions in its international operations over the last six days, resulting in 83 cancellations. This is because of the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfews (at airports abroad), the continuous enhanced safety inspections, and the necessary caution being taken by the engineering staff and Air India pilots.
AI promises to let passengers know ahead of time and try its best to get them a seat on another aircraft. Additionally, passengers will have the option of receiving a complete refund or rescheduling their trip at no additional cost.
The term ‘duopoly’ essentially refers to the intense competition between the European multinational Airbus SE and the American Giant Boeing Company within the jet airliner industry. Both companies are in the process of designing and manufacturing civil and military aerospace products. Between the two companies, Boeing is currently leading the market with a market share of 52%, closely followed by Airbus with 48%.
Companies that began to grow, and expanded quickly became market leaders and fierce competitors. The origin of the duopoly could be attributed to a series of mergers and acquisitions within the global aerospace industry. A deeper understanding can be gleaned from understanding the journey of both these companies independently.
Why Airbus and Boeing Dominate the Sky
The Boeing Company
Initially founded as Aero Products Company in Seattle, Washington in the year 1916 by lumber industrialist William E. Boeing, it was renamed Boeing Airplane Company a year later. The company initially supplied military aircraft for World War I. The company was also engaged in ferrying mail due to its profitability. In the year 1928, William Boeing formed another company named Boeing Airplane and Transport Corporation. He renamed it United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1929. United Aircraft and Transport Corporation went on an acquisition spree of several aircraft makers including Avion, Chance Vought, Sikorsky Aviation, Stearman Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney, and Hamilton Metalplane. In 1931, the group merged its four small airlines under one umbrella – United Airlines.
Boeing 777X
The Airmail Act, which came into force in 1934, effectively prevented companies from simultaneously delivering mail and manufacturing airplanes. This resulted in the company restructuring itself and United Aircraft and Transport was dissolved and three separate entities emerged from it – Boeing Airplane Company, United Aircraft, and United Airlines.
Between the 1960s and 1970s Boeing Airplane Company went on an expansion spree beginning with purchasing Vertol Aircraft Corporation, which was the biggest independent helicopter manufacturer of the time. Subsequently, it diversified its business interests into different industries like outer space travel, marine craft, agriculture, energy production, and transit systems, slowly and surely gaining a monopoly within the industry.
Since then, the company has consistently grown by partnering with Russian, Ukrainian, and Anglo-Norwegian organizations in 1995, to create Sea Launch that provided commercial launch services to geostationary orbit from floating platforms. It also acquired the satellite segment of Hughes Electronics in 2000. Boeing also completed its merger with McDonnell Douglas in August 1997. By 2001, Boeing moved its corporate headquarters from Seattle to Chicago and by the year 2018, it opened its first factory in Europe at Sheffield along with a research partnership with The University of Sheffield.
Airbus SE
The European multinational aerospace corporation primarily with three major divisions – Commercial Aircraft under Airbus S.A.S., Defence and Space, and Helicopters. The company was launched in 1970 as Airbus Industrie GIE as a pan-European (countries included were Germany, France, Britain, and Spain) effort to combat the rising Boeing monopoly globally. The company got its first break with the A300 in the year 1977. Registered in Leiden, Netherlands the ‘SE’ in its name means ‘societas Europaea’ which, essentially, allows the company to be registered as a European corporation as opposed to a national corporation. Through various corporate changes and restructuring, the company got its present name, Airbus SE in the year 2017.
Airbus A380
Building on the resounding success of its A300, which also essentially decimated its competition within the continent, the company launched the A320 which continues to enjoy commercial success even today. By the 1990s, commercial airline manufacturing was already a duopoly between these two giants, that continues to this day.
Between 2007 and 2016, both companies were fiercely competing with each other with Airbus receiving 9985 new aircraft orders and delivering 5644 aircraft and Boeing receiving 8978 new aircraft orders and delivering 5718.
Can the Duopoly be Broken?
Boeing and Airbus have dominated the commercial aviation market for almost three decades. Valued at approximately USD 190 billion, this market is considered to be the biggest and the most profitable in the world. Even though over time both these companies have faced issues with their aircraft, these giants together occupy 99% of the global market for large commercial airliners.
Although possible, the duopoly is extremely difficult to break due to various reasons –
1. The global market for medium and large commercial airlines is not big enough to support more than 2 players.
2. The entry barrier within the business is extremely high in terms of capital, expertise, and talent requirement not to mention the consistent operational maintenance required.
3. Initial investment recovery period is very long.
4. Business trust is extremely difficult to build in this industry that already has players with a proven track record.
Having said all this, the new Chinese passenger jet made by the aerospace company COMAC and named C919, showed itself off on its maiden flight at an airshow in November 2020. With its feature and its lower operating cost, it can, ultimately, make its place on the global stage and give stiff competition to the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing.
When it comes to aviation, safety is paramount in whichever airplane flies in the skies. Hence, whichever player, be it a new entrant or a veteran, can offer a safe flight will win the global war. The duopoly can very well become a triopoly within the next decade.
FAQs
Who is bigger, Airbus or Boeing?
The Airbus A380-800 is the world’s largest passenger aircraft with a maximum capacity of 853.
What is the name of Boeing’s most popular commercial airplane model?
Boeing’s most popular commercial airplane model is the Boeing 737. It has been in production since 1967 and is widely used by airlines around the world.
What is the name of the fighter jet that Boeing manufactures for the US military?
The name of the fighter jet that Boeing manufactures for the US military is the F/A-18 Super Hornet. It is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather fighter jet used by the US Navy and Marine Corps.
What is the name of Airbus’s most popular commercial airplane model?
The name of Airbus’s most popular commercial airplane model is the Airbus A320. It can seat up to 240 passengers.
What is the name of the Airbus aircraft that is currently the world’s largest passenger airliner?
The name of the Airbus aircraft that is currently the world’s largest passenger airliner is the Airbus A380. It is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine aircraft that can carry up to 853 passengers in a single-class configuration, making it the largest commercial aircraft in the world.
India’s aviation industry has embraced a new wave in airline travel as India’s Warren Buffet, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala has finally launched an Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier, Akasa Air.
The aviation industry in India is in fact an untapped market with only a few companies making all of the profit. It also has to be read along with the multiple events where companies like Kingfisher and Jet Airways had to suspend their operations as they run on a loss.
The pandemic has not spared this industry as air travel is still struggling to make an actual comeback out of the larger travel restrictions that were imposed on it.
Companies like Indigo, which is India’s largest airline, have already confirmed that their losses have been wider than they expected. This is despite the quick reinstatement of the operating services across India as soon as the restrictions were lifted.
The fact that the industry is an unexplored arena and yet a very risky platform makes the new initiative of Mr. Jhunjhunwala more unpredictable and yet attractive. It cannot be denied that this investment is going to alter the airline industry for good. This article will analyse all sides of this ambitious plan.
The successful investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala has clarified his plans on investing $35 million in Akasa airlines where he would own 40% of carriers, which means 70 aircraft within a span of four years. After he invested $35 mn on Akasa, the airline company was quick to receive the no objection certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India in October 2021.
The Akasa airline company, “Akasa Air”, is designed to serve as an ultra-low-cost carrier that is led by a very enviable team that one could imagine. It includes former CEOs of successful airline companies like Indigo, Delta airlines et cetera.
The current leadership team of Akasa has Vinay Dube, who was the ex-CEO of Jet Airways and Go First as the Founder, CEO, and MD of the company. Praveen Iyer, the former GoFirst Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), and GoFirst Head of Flight Operations, Nikhil Ved, are some others who are leading the Mumbai-headquartered, low-cost Indian airline company.
Their focus will be more on air carriers that can accommodate 180 passengers. In the face of exclusive expensive fare wars and the high cost of maintenance and operations, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s initiatives will be a game-changer.
If materialised properly Akasa Air could be the golden feather in the fastest-growing aviation market in the world.
Will Air Travel Become Economical?
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala with his confident proposal has made it clear that his intention is to capture the mass market. The ULCC or ultra-low-cost carrier will democratise the hitherto expensive transportation method.
The initiatives by earlier companies like Air Deccan have significantly helped in bringing down the ticket fares of aeroplanes. It is expected that Akasa Air’s initiatives will further bring down the prices.
This will also align with the UDAN scheme of the Government of India, which aims to make air travel well-furnished, available, and affordable. However, it will heavily depend upon the slots that they will get in airports.
The fact that even vendors and lessors are also in a very battered state after the pandemic, will enable the airline company to renegotiate its terms and costs so as to raise fresh funds and trim costs, which will in turn, help them to afford lower ticket fares.
Akasa Air will alter the market of plane makers into a very competitive sector as the industry is trying to wriggle out of the burdening losses that it had to incur as the pandemic struck them hard.
It is anticipated that there will be heavy competition between plane makers like Boeing and Airbus. As far as Boeing is concerned, it is indeed a valuable opportunity for them to make a comeback to the Indian industry since the only operator for their 737 aircraft in India is SpiceJet.
As per the statistics, Indian carriers own more than 900 planes of which more than 700 are owned by Airbus and only 100 by Boeing. The latter is also losing its position in the wide-body aircraft market as well. This means that the plane makers will be ready to give competitive rates if Akasha wants to lease an aircraft from them.
These rates are expected to be better than the pre-Covid rates, according to Nithin Sarin who is a managing partner at a law firm that functions as an advisory to airlines and lessors. Such a competition is highly beneficial as far as the air travellers are concerned since it will assure them quality travelling at affordable prices.
The vision of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala through Akasa Air, will be a hard nut to crack. Out of all the industries it can be said without any doubt that the aviation industry is one of the riskiest and most unpredictable markets.
Lack of The First Comers Benefit
In India, 50% of the low-cost air carrier market is held by just one player – Indigo. When a new airline with an ambitious mission like Akasa is entering the market, it not only has to compete with the wide network of Indigo but also its potential.
Akasa should calculate the ways in which Indigo can scale up its game as they attempt to do the same. At least, initially, it will be very difficult for Akasa Air to get attractive time slots in important metro airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc., which will have a direct impact on its revenue.
The Contrast between High Cost and Low Price
One of the trademarks of Akasa Air, as proposed by Jhunjhunwala, is its low ticket fare. However, the reason why air travel is expensive is widely known. During the pandemic, turbine fuel charges have further increased along with other Covid related uncertainties.
The ground handling charges and labour costs also constitute a large part of the operational cost of an airline. The former holds 75% of the whole non-fixed cost that an airline operation should incur.
Amidst other expenses like airport fees, taxes, luggage et cetera the aim to democratise airline travel might cost a fortune for Akasa Air. Here, high cost is contrasted with low price, which if handled carelessly can even lead to the failure of the entire endeavour.
Rising Competition
Apart from the first-comer advantage that it lacks, the timeline of its entry into the airline industry is also marked by the rise of other companies who had lost their strategic position in between.
Along with Jhunjhunwala, the Kalrock Capital-Murari Lal Jalan consortium is all set to revive Jet Airways which had suspended its operation earlier. They have also got approval from the National Company Law Tribunal as well.
At the same time, Air India is also likely to find a buyer which will further alter the nature of competition in the sector itself. GoAir can also be an important competitor if it successfully gains investor interest during its listing.
The Present State and Growth of Akasa Air
Akasa Air has finally commenced its commercial operations. The airline company has last announced that it will be starting its flights from August, 7, 2022, onwards, which it did on the mentioned date. In its first flight Akasa Air flew from Mumbai to Ahmedabad after it received the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Akasa Air witnessed an inaugural ceremony conducted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, where the Co-founder of the airline company Vinay Dubey gave a speech. Besides, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala joined the other passengers onboard in the maiden flight of the company. The passengers of Akasa Air, elated as they were on the first flight, shared numerous photos and videos of the iconic Akasa Air flight.
Akasa Air has also disclosed that it will offer 28 weekly flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Akasa Air has already revealed the destinations and has started bookings for the same as well. Some of the destinations along with their starting dates are:
State in India
City
Airport
Dates
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
August 7, 2022
Karnataka
Bengaluru
Kempegowda International Airport
August 13, 2022
Kerala
Kochi
Cochin International Airport
August 13, 2022
Maharashtra
Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
August 7, 2022
The company got its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from DGCA after it completed the proving flights that were required to be done, on July 7, 2022. Akasa Air started taking flight bookings on its website on July 22, 2022.
Akasa Air Crew Members’ Dress
#AkasaCrewLook | Comfortable, Eco-Friendly & Fun. Presenting the all-new Akasa Air crew uniforms designed to keep our organisation’s core value of putting the comfort of our employees and the environment first. Read More: https://t.co/aAmFbywJIapic.twitter.com/T9jmztMNb7
The Akasa Air dresses for the crew members are designed keeping in mind the all-around comfort of the airline’s crew. Akasa Air is the first Indian airline that introduced customer trousers and jackets.
The clothes of Akasa Air were specially made for the airline service provider. The fabric of the jackets and the trousers are weaved out of recycled polyester fabric, made from pet plastic bottles salvaged from marine waste. The uniforms are stretchable.
Beauty and comfort were kept in mind while designing these clothes. Rajesh Pratap Singh designed the uniform of Akasa Air. Akasa Air uniforms have combined soft colour combos that include black, white, and blue for the pilots, and orange and black for the crew, which ooze class and comfort. The sneakers that the crew members will sport are designed by Vanilla Moon. These shoes will be light and are lined with an extra wall of cushion from heel to toe. The sneakers are made out of recycled rubber and don’t use plastic in any way.
How to Book Akasa Air Flights?
If you are wondering how to book Akasa Air flights, then booking your seat in the next Akasa Air flight is a cakewalk. Here are some simple steps you need to follow to do it successfully:
First, you need to visit the Akasa Air website and log in to your account through the mobile app of the airline operator using your mobile number.
Then, you need to add the details of your travel which would include whether it is a one-way or a round trip and more. After entering these details, you would get all the information about the flights and their fares.
Next, you would have the option to enter add-ons including your favourite meals and more.
Then, update your passenger information
In the last step, you need to choose your preferred payment option to complete the process.
Akasa Air – Logo, Symbol, and Tagline
Akasa Air – Logo
Akasa Air chose “Sunrise Orange” and “Passionate Purple” for its branding, which reflects warmth and energy. The company announced its symbol and tagline on December 22, 2021, and mentioned that they were inspired by the elements of the sky.
The airline, which is operated by SNV Aviation and backed by billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, mentioned that the symbol, which resembles ‘The Rising A’, reflects “the warmth of the rising sun, the effortless flight of a bird, and the dependability of an aircraft wing”.
The logo of Akasa Air and its tagline helps in “translating our purpose to serve every traveller with an innovative yet simple alternative required a modern and confident symbol”, said Vinay Dube, Founder, MD, and CEO of Akasa Air.
“It’s Your Sky”, says the Akasa Air Tagline.
The brand symbol and tagline of Akasa were weaved in by 26FIVE India Lab, which is a brand engagement firm headquartered in Mumbai, Maharastra.
Akasa Air – Future Plans
Akasa Air has planned to have 18 aircraft by the end of 2022, as confirmed by Vinay Dube, the CEO, Founder, and MD of the airline company. Furthermore, it looks to add 12-14 aircrafts per year. Within the next 5 years, Akasa Air is planning to possess nearly 72 aircraft, added Dube.
Dube further announced that Akasa Air will initially have services from metro cities to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and will also operate flights to major cities across India.
Conclusion
Even with its risks and unpredictability, the foundation set by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala through Akasa Air is revolutionary without any doubt. The changes it can bring to air travel by democratising prices can be phenomenal.
They have a very efficient and talented team to fall back on, which further increases the probability of a successful materialisation of their idea. There is absolutely no doubt about the anxiety that the loss of Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, and SpiceJet brings to the table.
However, it will be rather interesting to learn the ways in which Akasa Air with heavy support from a brilliant investor like Rakesh Jhunjhunwala will make his dream of ULCC come true for the good of all!
FAQs
What is Akasa airline?
Akasa airline company, Akasa Air, belongs to SNV Aviation Private Limited, and is an airline company, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and is created to serve as an Indian low-cost airline service operator.
Who is the founder of the Akasa airline company, Akasa Air?
Akasa Air is an ultra-low-cost carrier backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
Who are the competitors of Akasa Air?
Jet Airways, Air India, and Indigo are some of the competitors of Akasa Air.
When will the Akasa Air flights commence?
The flights of Akasa Air are expected to start on August 7, 2022, and will begin to be operational between the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.
What is the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala airlines company called?
The Rakesh Jhunjhunwala airlines company is named Akasa Air.
What are the Akasa Air destinations?
Akasa Air is expected to operate in the Indian states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra.
