Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline today commenced operations from Gwalior, its 19th domestic destination, marking its foray into Madhya Pradesh. The inaugural flight was flagged off by the Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation of India, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Honourable Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Gen. (Dr.) V.K. Singh (Retd.), in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Dr. Mohan Yadav, and other dignitaries in a virtual ceremony. The maiden flight departed from Gwalior at 1345 hrs and arrived in Ahmedabad at 1515 hrs.
As a symbolic gesture to mark the first flight, Akasa Air’s boarding pass was handed over to the Honourable Minister of Civil Aviation of India, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia by Priya Mehra, Chief Legal, Regulatory and Strategic Relations Officer, Akasa Air.
At Vijayaraje Scindhiya Airport Gwalior, the inaugural flight ceremony was graced by Honourable Energy Minister Shri. Pradyuman Singh Tomar, Member of Parliament Shri Narayan Singh Kushwah and Honourable MLA Shri Mohan Singh Rathore who lit the ceremonial lamp along with Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air and Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience officer, Akasa Air.
Starting 5th February 2024, Akasa Air will operate conveniently timed direct weekly flights between Gwalior and Ahmedabad. With this, the airline now connects Ahmedabad with six cities, operating over 60 weekly departures. Passengers can book their travel on Akasa Air’s website – www.akasaair.com, Android and iOS app or through multiple leading OTAs.
The city of Gwalior holds immense economic significance due to agricultural and manufacturing activities while its rich heritage attracts cultural enthusiasts and pilgrims from across the country. The launch of flights on the route is in line with Akasa Air’s vision of strengthening the country’s transportation system with a robust network connecting tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
Commenting on the announcement, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “We are delighted to announce the addition of Gwalior, to our fast-growing network. The centrally located city boasts of a vibrant heritage, serving as a gateway to various tourist attractions across India. By connecting Gwalior with Ahmedabad – an important cultural and commercial hub, we not only enhance interstate connectivity but also catalyse trade, tourism, and regional development. At Akasa Air, we constantly endeavour to provide our customers with seamless travel options, reliable operations, and warm customer experience at low fares.”
Commenting on the launch, Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience officer, Akasa Air said, “We are excited to bring the Akasa experience to Gwalior, a city with immense cultural and industrial significance as we expand and strengthen our footprint across the country. Since inception, we have continued to enhance our portfolio of category-defining services such as Pets on Akasa and the popular Café Akasa menu backed by our signature Akasa experience delivered through a warm and friendly service. We are confident that our passengers travelling on the route will enjoy our offerings and the Akasa experience.
Akasa Air has introduced multiple best-in-class products and services to ensure an inclusive, warm, comfortable, and efficient flying experience. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft seats provide ample legroom and come with USB ports in a majority of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their gadgets and devices on the go. Café Akasa, the airline’s onboard meal service offers an assortment of healthy and delectable meals, including festive menus and industry-first options such as Kombucha, to offer customers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies. Pets on Akasa allows customers to travel with their pets in the cabin or carry them in cargo based on their size. In addition, in an endeavour to make travel inclusive, Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and onboard menu card in Braille for persons with visual impairment.
Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has served over 6.3 million passengers and connects with 19 cities across India, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya, and Gwalior.
