Akasa Air’s inaugural flight to Abu Dhabi takes off

• Commences daily direct flights connecting Mumbai and Abu Dhabi 
• Offers reliable, affordable and seamless options for air travel between India and UAE 

New Delhi. 11 July 2024. Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, commenced operations in Abu Dhabi, the  capital of the United Arab Emirates, connecting it to Mumbai with daily direct flights. The inaugural flight on 11th July 2024 departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 1705hrs IST and is scheduled  to arrive at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi at 1850hrs AST. 

In an event held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to flag off the maiden flight, a ceremonial  lamp was lit in the presence of members of Akasa Air’s Executive Committee. The event was also graced by  the leadership of Mumbai International Airport Limited, and a special boarding pass was presented to the first  passenger on the inaugural flight.  

The launch of flights provides travellers the choice of flying with India’s most dependable airline while offering  seamless and affordable options for air travel between India and the United Arab Emirates. 

Commenting on the destination launch, Neelu Khatri, Co-Founder and SVP International, Akasa Air, said, “We are pleased to commence operations from Abu Dhabi, the fourth international destination on our rapidly  growing global network. The launch of daily direct flights connecting two prominent cities- Mumbai and Abu  Dhabi, will provide affordable and convenient options for air travel on the route, and strengthen the air travel  links between India and the UAE.” 

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air further shared, “We are delighted to  solidify our presence in the Middle East region with the launch of direct flights connecting Mumbai with Abu  Dhabi. Home to a strong Indian diaspora and known for its unique tourist experiences, the city has become a  popular destination amongst tourists. Moreover, its burgeoning trade prospects have consistently attracted  business travellers from across the globe. This strategic expansion will enable us to cater to the ever-growing  demand for air travel between India and UAE with reliable operations and affordable fares.” 

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Akasa Air added, “We are  excited to bring the Akasa experience to Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE. At Akasa Air, service excellence is at  the heart of everything we do, and we strive to make every flight a memorable experience for our passengers.  Travellers on the route can look forward to a warm flying experience with unique culinary offerings through our  onboard meal service Café Akasa, backed by the signature service delivered by our crew members on board  and on ground. Travellers also have the option to choose from a variety of customizable and all-inclusive holiday  packages at affordable prices with Akasa Holidays.” 

“We take pride in having redefined air travel in India within a short time, and as we spread our wings, we are  confident that Akasa Air will become synonymous with service excellence across the globe”- he added  

Akasa Air forayed into international skies in March 2024, and has rapidly expanded its global footprint since  then. The airline currently operates flights to Doha, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi and has opened for the sale of tickets  to Jeddah. Additionally, Akasa Air has also been granted traffic rights for Kuwait, and Medina (Kingdom of Saudi  Arabia), and will continue to strengthen its international network in the coming months, taking the signature  Akasa experience to the world.  

Akasa Air has introduced multiple quality products and differentiated services to ensure an inclusive, warm, and  comfortable flying experience. Its brand-new fleet provides ample legroom and enhanced comfort and comes  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. Travelers who wish to explore Abu Dhabi can choose to plan their travel with Akasa Holidays which  offers customisable and all-inclusive holiday packages at affordable prices.Skyscore by Akasa provides live  scores of all major sporting events onboard, and the airline’s Quiet Flights experience offers a restful and  undisturbed inflight journey on early morning and late-night flights. 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. 

Akasa Air’s consistent on-time leadership, operational efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback  have made it a preferred carrier in India, serving over 10 million passengers since its launch in August 2022.  Akasa Air currently connects with 22 domestic and four international cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad,  Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra,  Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah,  Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Abu Dhabi (UAE). 

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