Akasa Air Expands International Network with Direct Flights to Abu Dhabi
Bengaluru: Akasa Air, India’s youngest airline, has launched daily direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Bengaluru and Ahmedabad under a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways. The airline announced that the first flight from Bengaluru departed on March 1 from Kempegowda International Airport, while the inaugural flight from Ahmedabad will depart from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
This expansion complements Akasa Air’s existing daily service between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi, which began in July 2024. With these new routes, Akasa Air now operates 21 weekly flights connecting Abu Dhabi with three major Indian cities, strengthening its presence in one of the busiest international aviation corridors.
According to Neelu Khatri, co-founder and SVP International at Akasa Air, “This expansion further solidifies our footprint in the UAE, unlocking new travel opportunities and fostering tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between India and the UAE.” She also highlighted that the launch marks the airline’s first international route from Bengaluru while further enhancing connectivity from Ahmedabad.
Since its inception in August 2022, Akasa Air has served over 15 million passengers, expanding its reach to 23 domestic and five international destinations, including Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City.
As an all-Boeing carrier, Akasa Air has placed a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft powered by fuel-efficient CFM LEAP-1B engines. The airline currently operates 27 of these aircraft, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its global footprint while maintaining operational efficiency.
