Akasa Air Announces First International Flight

Akasa Air, labelled as not just the fastest-growing carrier in India but generally the world, has made company history by announcing its first international destination.

For the Indian carrier, long have international flights been on the horizon. However, the necessity of adding more aircraft was paramount for the company.

First International Route

From 28 March 2024, Akasa Air says it’ll operate a four-times-weekly nonstop flight between Mumbai and Doha alongside its rapidly expanding domestic network.

Operating as QP70/71, the flight will depart Mumbai at 1745 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a touchdown in Doha at 1940. The return leg will depart Doha one hour later at 2040, with an arrival back into Mumba at 0245 the following morning. All times are local to their respective cities.

The latest announcement shows that Akasa Air has become the first Indian airline to fly overseas in record time. This record, timing-wise, is just over a year and a half, coming in at 19 months.

Service between Mumbai and Doha will be fantastic for tourism and the airline notes for fostering economic benefits long into the future, with Doha home to several vital businesses.

Additionally, Akasa Air cites that the service launch towards Qatar, specifically Doha, aligns with Qatar’s Tourism Strategy 2030. As part of this strategy, the primary mission is to make it the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Middle East by 2030.

The Next Phase

Launching international services is widely described as the next phase of growth being seen at Akasa Air in such a rapid manner.

International flights have long been in the pipeline, and the airline hopes to achieve further global growth with the arrival of more previously ordered 737 MAX jets.

The MAX will build the backbone of the Akasa Air fleet for decades, with the finalisation and announcement of a deal in January, including three digits worth of jets.

Comments From Executives

We are delighted to announce our international operations with the launch of our first destination – Doha, to our growing network. The introduction of four flights a week, connecting directly with Mumbai, a key Indian commercial hub, will cater to a diverse set of travellers from the two countries, facilitating tourism, commerce and strengthening bilateral ties.