Akasa Air commences international operations from Ahmedabad; inaugurates direct flights to Jeddah

Ahmedabad, 20 July 2024: Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, commenced direct flights connecting Ahmedabad with Jeddah, the port city of Saudi Arabia, marking its first international route from the Indian city. The inaugural flight on 20th July 2024 departed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1740hrs IST and is scheduled to arrive at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah at 2030hrs AST. Akasa Air launched operations to Jeddah on 15th July 2024 with daily direct flights to Mumbai. The airline now operates two weekly flights between Ahmedabad and Jeddah, providing enhanced and affordable options for air travel between the two major commercial hubs.

In an event held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to flag off the maiden flight, a ceremonial lamp was lit in the presence of members of Akasa Air’s Executive Committee – Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air and Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, Akasa Air. The event was also graced by the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, and a special boarding pass was presented to the first passenger on the inaugural flight.

Ahmedabad is Akasa Air’s maiden destination, and the airline forayed into the city in August 2022 with the commencement of weekly flights connecting it with Mumbai. Akasa Air has completed 23 successful months of operations from Ahmedabad and has progressively expanded its presence in the region. The airline now seamlessly connects Ahmedabad non-stop with six domestic and one international destination including Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gwalior, Pune and Jeddah, and operates 59 weekly departures from the city. Since the launch of operations, Akasa Air has carried over 1.8 million passengers to and from Ahmedabad.

Commenting on the occasion, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air said “As our maiden destination, Ahmedabad holds immense prominence for Akasa Air, and we are delighted to mark our first international flight from the city with the launch of operations to Jeddah. Ahmedabad is India’s leading industrial centre that has displayed a growing appetite for air travel to the Middle East region, and Jeddah has emerged as a popular destination specially amongst business travelers. The launch of weekly direct flights to Jeddah strengthens the link between two major commercial hubs and provides travellers the choice of flying with India’s most dependable airline.”

Our progressive expansion in the region in the past two years reflects our commitment to the city, and as we expand our horizons, we remain dedicated to providing reliable travel options at affordable fares. “- he added

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Akasa Air added: “We are pleased to strengthen our presence in Ahmedabad and extend the Akasa experience to travellers on the Ahmedabad-Jeddah route. In the past two years, we have received immense appreciation for our warm and efficient flying experience from customers travelling to and from the city, and our resolve towards service excellence continues to strengthen.

Travellers on the route can relish some truly distinguished culinary offerings with our onboard meal service Café Akasa, enjoy the comfort of our spacious cabins and the convenience of in-seat charging with USB ports on most of our aircraft. Offerings like Skyscore by Akasa and Quiet Flights along with the signature service delivered by our crew onboard and on ground will further enhance the in-flight experience of our passengers. Moreover, travellers also have the option to choose from a variety of customizable and all-inclusive holiday packages at affordable prices with Akasa Holidays.”

Our positive customer response from Ahmedabad is a testament to our service standards, and as we bolster our presence, we are confident that Akasa Air will continue to be the preferred carrier for travel to and from the city.” he added

Akasa Air forayed into international skies in March 2024, and has rapidly expanded its global footprint since then. The airline currently operates flights to Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah and has also been granted traffic rights for Kuwait, and Medina (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). 

Akasa Air has introduced multiple quality products and differentiated services to ensure an inclusive, warm, and comfortable flying experience. Its brand-new fleet provides ample legroom and enhanced comfort and comes with USB ports in a majority of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their gadgets and devices on the go. Café Akasa, the airline’s onboard meal service offers an assortment of healthy and delectable meals, including festive menus and industry-first options such as Kombucha, to offer customers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies. Travelers can choose to plan their travel with Akasa Holidays which offers customisable and all-inclusive holiday packages at affordable prices.Skyscore by Akasa provides live scores of all major sporting events onboard, and the airline’s Quiet Flights experience offers a restful and undisturbed inflight journey on early morning and late-night flights. In addition, in an endeavour to make travel inclusive, Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and onboard menu card in Braille for persons with visual impairment.

Akasa Air’s consistent on-time leadership, operational efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback have made it a preferred carrier in India, serving over 10 million passengers since its launch in August 2022. Akasa Air currently connects with 22 domestic and four international cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah, Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Abu Dhabi (UAE).

 

Flight schedule:

 

 About Akasa Air: 

Akasa Air is India’s most dependable airline, offering warm and efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable fares - all in the Akasa Way. Akasa’s youthful personality, employee-centric philosophy, tech-led approach, and culture of service make this commitment a reality for all Indians. 

The carrier launched its first commercial flight on 07 August 2022 to support the growing demand across India and commenced international operations on 28 March 2024, offering non-stop flights from Mumbai to Doha. This milestone makes it the first Indian airline to fly overseas within a record period of just 19 months. Internationally, Akasa Air operates flights to Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah. Additionally, Akasa Air has also been granted traffic rights for Kuwait and Medina (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Since its inception, Akasa Air has served over 10 million passengers and connects 26 cities.

With a clear focus on sustained, long-term growth, Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 226 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM fuel-efficient, LEAP-1B engines. It currently operates 24 737 MAX aircraft which delivers superior efficiency in reducing fuel use and carbon emissions. The aircraft also powers a quieter cabin with 40 per cent less noise fulfilling the airline's promise of being an environmentally progressive company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies.

 

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