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 11^th 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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