Indian Airline Confirms Confidence in Boeing Supply Chain and Eyes Pilot Expansion in 2026

India - Akasa Air, India’s youngest scheduled carrier, has reaffirmed its confidence in its fleet expansion plans and Boeing delivery schedule, while confirming plans to restart pilot recruitment in 2026 to support continued growth. The airline currently operates a fleet of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and holds firm orders for 226 jets, positioning it among the largest future MAX operators globally.

• Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube stated that the airline feels “very good about the delivery schedule” for its Boeing aircraft, emphasizing improved predictability and stability in the manufacturer’s production pipeline.
• Akasa currently employs between 750 and 775 pilots and plans to restart pilot hiring in 2026, primarily focusing on first officer recruitment to meet the projected increase in fleet size and network expansion needs.
• The hiring campaign will begin well before the demand materializes in the second half of 2026, ensuring crew readiness ahead of aircraft inductions.

Statements

• “We will have a need for pilots in the second half of next year. So, we will have to restart the (hiring) process well before that... We feel very good about our delivery schedule, we have more predictability.” – Vinay Dube, CEO, Akasa Air

Source: Akasa Air