Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air's 1st Boeing 737 MAX lands at Delhi International Airport: IN PICS

India's newest low cost airline, backed by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, on June 15th, 2022, received the ceremonial keys to its first of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Seattle, USA. 

In the presence of Akasa Air's executive team, the first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi today. 

The delivery of Akasa Air's first aircraft gets the airline one step closer to receiving its Air Operator's Permit (AOP), which is essential for the airline to begin commercial operations in the country.

Akasa Air placed an order for 72 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircrafts, with an initial delivery of 18 aircraft by March 2023, followed by delivery of the remaining 54 aircraft over the course of the next four years.

The airline says they will be providing the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle airplane as well as high dispatch reliability and an enhanced passenger experience. 

Akasa Air's airline code is 'QP' and the livery is a combination of Sunset Orange and Purple shade, a new for any airline in India.

The controversial Boeing 737 Max got safety clearance from FAA and DGCA after two crashes a couple of years ago and gets greater fuel efficiency and lower operating costs for any 737 Max single aisle plane globally. 

SNV Aviation under which Akasa will fly says that the airline brand is targeting Summer 2022 to start the operations in India. While Akasa earlier targeted June to start operations, it now says that they can only take the first flight as early as July.