India's new airline AND TRAGEDY *

The notorious Indian bureaucracy has not stopped a new airline from emerging.

Indian start-up air carrier Akasa Air (QP) last week finally launched commercial operations following a gestation period of around eight years.

Akasa kicked off operations with its first flight on the Mumbai (BOM) – Ahmedabad (AMD) route after an elaborate inauguration ceremony at the airport.

It is worth noting that Akasa operated its first-ever flight using its first-ever aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as VT-YAA was delivered to the airline back in June.

VT-YAA has spent the majority of its life after delivery at a remote stand in the capital city’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport (DEL), but it was ferried to BOM on Saturday for the launch. Akasa’s second airframe, registered as VT-YAB, was brought to BOM on Friday night.

www.akasaair.com

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Malcolm Ginsberg, Edgware, London

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala (62) was an Indian billionaire business magnate, stock trader, and investor. He began investing in 1985 with a capital of ₹ 5,000, with his first major profit in 1986. At the time of his death he had an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion, making him the 438th richest person in the world. Wikipedia

Michael Davis, Switzerland

What a sad fact it is that the founder of AKASA should die on Sunday 14th...! Rakesh Jhunjhunwala RIP. AKASA seems to be well funded, properly thought out and free of the hype and rumour that surrounds the re-start of Jet Airways India, mired in administration, bank debt, and run by a shadowy UK investment group who have proposed many start dates but significantly failed to acquire a single aircraft!