Akasa Air joins global airlines’ association IATA after completing mandatory safety audit — details here
India’s youngest airline, Akasa Air, announced that it has joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a member on Friday, January 9, news agency PTI reported.
Akasa Air said on Friday that it has secured IATA membership after successfully completing the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), a mandatory requirement for airlines wishing to join global aviation.
IATA is the trade association of the global airline industry and its current members account for 80% of global air traffic, according to its website. The association was founded in 1945 to support the development of commercial standards on which the global air transport industry is built.
Akasa Air joins the global community
Founded in 2020 by aviation entrepreneur Vinay Dube, the airline has steadily expanded its presence in the industry and will now be a member of a global trade association representing more than 360 carriers worldwide.
The move will give the airline a seat at the table alongside some of the biggest players in the international aviation industry. Four Indian airlines out of 360 members are also part of the community; these include Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and SpiceJet.
Sheldon Hee, IATA Asia-Pacific Regional Vice President, said, “We are excited to see Akasa Air as an IATA member. India’s aviation potential is huge, the sector supports 7.7 million jobs and an economic contribution of $53.6 billion.” PTI.
About Akasa Air — fleet size, investors, other details
Operating a fleet of 31 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Akasa Air currently serves a network spanning 26 destinations in India and six international cities, steadily expanding its footprint on key domestic routes while strengthening its presence in select overseas markets.
Talking about IATA membership, Akasa Air Founder and CEO Vinay Dubey said that the association will strengthen the airline’s global credibility and position it as a future-ready Indian airline on the world stage.
Late investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala had heavily backed the airline by investing almost $35 million for around 40% stake in the company. In a more recent development, the airline has attracted fresh investments from leading institutional investors including Premji Invest, 360 ONE Asset and Claypond Capital, which will come on board in 2025.
