<p><em><strong>By Bhuma Shrivastava</strong></em></p>.<p>India’s newest carrier Akasa Air took a 0.9 per cent share of the domestic market in September, its first full month operating in a country where almost a dozen airlines vie for passengers. </p>.<p>The low-cost carrier, backed by the billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who died in August at the age of 62, is trying to muscle into a market that continues to be dominated by IndiGo, which had a nearly 58 per cent share in September, according to data published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. </p>.<p>Akasa started flying between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on Aug. 7 using Boeing Co. 737 aircraft. It expanded to Bengaluru and Kochi later in the month, and its website shows it now also flies to New Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala and Chennai.</p>.<p>The carrier’s debut came at a particularly turbulent time in Indian aviation, which had been rocked by the Covid pandemic as well as a spate of mid-flight incidents involving various carriers that led to inspections by the regulator. </p>.<p>Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube has said Akasa is financially strong enough to place larger orders and expand its fleet to 72 aircraft within five years.</p>.<p>Competition among India carriers in September was fairly even beyond IndiGo, which is operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. Singapore Airlines-backed Vistara and Air India Ltd. both took about 9 per cent market share, and SpiceJet Ltd. grabbed 7.3 per cent, according to the DGCA.</p>
<p><em><strong>By Bhuma Shrivastava</strong></em></p>.<p>India’s newest carrier Akasa Air took a 0.9 per cent share of the domestic market in September, its first full month operating in a country where almost a dozen airlines vie for passengers. </p>.<p>The low-cost carrier, backed by the billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala who died in August at the age of 62, is trying to muscle into a market that continues to be dominated by IndiGo, which had a nearly 58 per cent share in September, according to data published by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. </p>.<p>Akasa started flying between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on Aug. 7 using Boeing Co. 737 aircraft. It expanded to Bengaluru and Kochi later in the month, and its website shows it now also flies to New Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala and Chennai.</p>.<p>The carrier’s debut came at a particularly turbulent time in Indian aviation, which had been rocked by the Covid pandemic as well as a spate of mid-flight incidents involving various carriers that led to inspections by the regulator. </p>.<p>Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube has said Akasa is financially strong enough to place larger orders and expand its fleet to 72 aircraft within five years.</p>.<p>Competition among India carriers in September was fairly even beyond IndiGo, which is operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. Singapore Airlines-backed Vistara and Air India Ltd. both took about 9 per cent market share, and SpiceJet Ltd. grabbed 7.3 per cent, according to the DGCA.</p>