EXCLUSIVE: At Akasa we’re constructing a future-ready airline to serve our grandkids, says CCO Praveen Iyer

BT: You’ve got reported a 52.9 per cent passenger load issue (PLF), carried round 2.4 lakh passengers and captured 0.2 per cent market share within the month of August. How do you fee your efficiency since launching operations?

PI: For a start-up airline, to have greater than 50 per cent PLF is probably unparalleled. Due to this fact, we might give ourselves a really high-performance ranking for the way in which we carried ourselves within the first month of operations. General, we’re very proud of the way in which we’ve carried out on the operational and business facet in August, September and, thus far, October.

BT: In just a little over a month and a half of operations in one of the crucial cutthroat aviation markets globally, what do you see as your essential differentiators?

PI: To start with, it’s the novelty of the product. India had not witnessed the launch of a serious scheduled provider within the final a number of years. Secondly, we’re getting loads of optimistic suggestions about our inflight menu by way of its high quality and selection. Inside a month of our launch, we supplied a particular festive menu that has acquired rave opinions. Thirdly, we’re additionally getting loads of optimistic suggestions round the feel and appear of the onboard product akin to seats, the consolation, the brand-new look of the plane and, in fact, our crew who’re extraordinarily service-oriented and pleasant in consonance with our values. These differentiators will finally make us stand out available in the market.

BT: You’re the second Indian provider after Air India to supply pet-friendly flights. What made you announce the service inside 60 days of launching operations?

PI: The complete administration staff of Akasa is pet lovers and pet house owners. We realised from our private expertise that it’s tough to hold your pet on an airline since solely a only a few provide that facility in India. Due to this fact, proper from the phrase go, we have been introducing it as a part of our to-do checklist. Thus, you will see that us to be people-friendly, pet-friendly and buyer pleasant.

BT: Earlier than the launch, the airline’s co-founders had stated that as a part of its endeavour to democratise air journey, Akasa shall be particularly specializing in non-metro routes. Each the federal government and consultants have stated that Tier-2 and-3 will propel the following section of progress in air visitors. Are you contemplating leasing small plane to service regional routes?

PI: At this level, no! It’s not in our plans. As issues stand right now, we’ve positioned the order for 72 plane and are presently within the strategy of taking that order. Now we have 18 plane coming in by the tip of March 2023, whereas the remaining shall be delivered over the following 4 years past that. Our goal is to deploy these plane on home and, within the second half of 23, on worldwide routes. On Tier II and III, we don’t have any plans for inducting smaller plane at this level. However then, you by no means say no to something. And, if we’ve to and when we’ve to, we are going to overview and take the fitting choice on the proper time.

BT: How intrinsic is new and cutting-edge know-how to Akasa Air’s day-to-day operations? Additionally, what are you doing to foster a tradition of innovation throughout the airline just like the US provider jetBlue?

PI: When you want to be related to the youthful technology, it’s a must to be tech-savvy. They perceive the language of know-how higher than most of us. So, only a few airways have gone reside on a full-fledged reservations system as we did with the best-in-the-industry, Navitaire. We additionally launched our cargo operations after signing a cope with SmartKargo on the programs facet. From a tech-enablement standpoint, we’re up there as a startup and we are going to ensure that we totally embrace know-how. Now we have to do this as we’ve been speaking about creating and constructing an airline that can be utilized by our grandchildren. So, we’re constructing Akasa preserving in thoughts the longer term. On the innovation facet, the freshness and options that we provide are fairly distinctive to our airline and we are going to proceed to seek out methods and means to please the shopper in addition to improve their journey expertise.

BT: What OPEC saying manufacturing cuts on Wednesday, how effectively ready are you to satisfy one other steep escalation in ATF costs?

PI: We will solely work in the direction of specializing in prices which might be inside our span of management. Something past our scope, there is no such thing as a level in fretting over it because you don’t understand how the state of affairs may evolve.

BT: How has the demise of your key promoter Rakesh Jhunjhunwala impacted your progress plans?

PI: Mr. Jhunjhunwala’s demise is a loss for the complete nation and never simply Akasa. Owing to his perception within the India progress story, he shall be sorely missed by lots of people. And that’s a actuality!