India’s Akasa Air plans to go public within the next two to five years and expects to resume hiring pilots in the second half of next year, CEO Vinay Dube said on Wednesday. The airline, currently loss-making and India’s third largest, has faced pilot underutilization due to delayed aircraft deliveries from Boeing, which has dealt with regulatory scrutiny and a seven-week workers’ strike.
Speaking at the Aviation India event, Dube said that within the next 60 days all pilots will begin accruing flight hours. He added that Akasa does not need to raise additional funds before an IPO, having secured an undisclosed sum earlier this year.
Addressing concerns about delays in fleet expansion, Dube expressed confidence in the airline’s progress, noting that Akasa now has 30 aircraft and is on track with its growth plans. While he did not disclose total expected deliveries for the year, previous reports suggest Akasa aims to operate around 54 planes by October 2026 and 72 by March 2027.
The company did not confirm where it plans to list when it goes public.
