MUMBAI— Akasa Air (QP) is in talks with Boeing for a potential order of more than 200 737 MAX aircraft, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the discussions.
The proposed deal would give India’s youngest major airline additional aircraft for expansion beyond 2032 as it seeks to increase capacity in the country’s growing aviation market.
The Mumbai-based carrier already has 183 unfilled Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from its existing order book, while 43 aircraft are currently in operation.
A decision on the potential new order is expected early next year, with commercial terms likely to be finalized during the second half of 2027, according to the report.
Akasa Air to Order 200 Boeing Aircraft
Akasa launched operations in 2022 and has built its fleet entirely around the Boeing 737 MAX family.
Boeing confirmed in January 2024 that Akasa had ordered 150 additional 737 MAX aircraft, taking its total Boeing order book to 226 aircraft at the time.
The airline has continued taking deliveries since the and its current fleet stands at 43 737 MAX jets.
The existing backlog is scheduled to support fleet growth through the next decade, while the proposed additional purchase could extend deliveries further into the 2030s.
The potential transaction remains under discussion and has not been finalized. Neither Akasa Air nor Boeing immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment on the reported talks.
Fleet Expansion Plans of Akasa Air
Akasa is also preparing for a significant increase in capacity as more aircraft arrive.
The airline is targeting a 30% capacity increase by March 2027, according to its finance chief, while its larger fleet is expected to support both domestic growth and the expansion of international services.
Chief Executive Vinay Dube has previously outlined a target of moving toward a 60:40 split between domestic and international capacity over the next two to three years.
The strategy would allow Akasa to allocate a greater share of its growing fleet to overseas markets as additional aircraft become available.
Akasa has already expanded internationally since beginning overseas operations, adding destinations as its 737 MAX fleet grows.
Its international passenger numbers have also increased as the airline develops its presence beyond the Indian domestic market.
Akasa’s International Growth
The reported Boeing discussions come as Akasa seeks to establish a larger international network alongside its domestic operations.
The 737 MAX provides the airline with a common narrowbody fleet for both types of flying, allowing new aircraft to be allocated according to demand and available routes.
The carrier’s international expansion is taking place as Indian airlines increase their overseas capacity and aircraft requirements.
Akasa’s existing Boeing order book, combined with the potential 200-plus aircraft purchase, would provide a long-term fleet pipeline if the proposed deal progresses, The Economic Times reported.
For Boeing, a new Akasa order would further strengthen its position in India’s rapidly expanding single-aisle aircraft market.
However, the reported purchase remains subject to negotiations, and the final aircraft quantity and terms could change before any agreement is completed.
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