Akasa Air is facing a significant challenge as over 300 of its pilots are still unable to operate flights. This predicament has continued for almost a year, primarily because of a lack of available aircraft. The airline employs nearly 700 pilots, which indicates that close to half are not flying on a regular basis.
The scarcity of flight hours is raising alarm among the grounded pilots regarding missed training opportunities.
Pilots express worries about training and flight hours.
The Indian low-cost carrier Akasa Air has put numerous pilots on the ground following a slowdown in Boeing 737 MAX deliveries in 2024.
As reported by The Hindu, approximately 400 out of 850 pilots are currently grounded, with only 60% necessary to operate its fleet of 26 aircraft. A collective of Akasa Air pilots has voiced their concerns to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

In a series of emails, they highlighted issues related to unclear training procedures and insufficient flight hours. Since December 11, 2024, seven pilots have resigned due to these concerns. The emails also suggested potential favoritism in the allocation of flight hours by the rostering manager.
Akasa Air denies the accusations, asserting high pilot satisfaction.
In response to the allegations, Akasa Air has insisted that its pilots are content and fulfilled.
The airline reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a positive work environment and emphasized its low attrition rate. It reported an annual attrition rate of under 1% among its pilots.
Nevertheless, the dissatisfied pilots contradicted this statement, noting that only 25% of their peers participated in the airline’s monthly feedback survey, while the remainder opted out.

The Hindu reported that post-joining training has already been prolonged by six months from an initial year, and recruits are worried that this period may be extended even further.
“Despite the adjustments in aircraft delivery timelines, over 60% of our pilots have started to accrue flying hours,” a spokesperson for Akasa Air informed The Hindu.
Sources indicate that the grounded pilots are receiving only 50% of their salary while not flying. The pilots further claim that they are not being allotted adequate flying hours, and that certain individuals are logging significantly more hours, hinting at a possible link with the rostering manager.
Pilot-to-aircraft ratio and financial implications
Akasa Air’s pilot-to-aircraft ratio is currently at 30:1, considerably higher than that of other narrow-body competitors like IndiGo, Air India Express, and SpiceJet. These airlines typically maintain a ratio of 10-12 pilots per aircraft.
The pilots who are currently not flying at Akasa Air have expressed concerns about the loss of flying allowances—up to 30 hours each month—and the absence of necessary biannual training amid the ongoing situation.
They also assert that the bonds they entered into upon joining Akasa Air, which range from ₹18 lakh to ₹48 lakh for different pilot categories, are hindering them from leaving, despite their inability to fly.
Akasa Air’s expansion and future strategies
Akasa Air is currently operating a fleet of 26 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and is optimistic about receiving its 27th by the end of this month. The airline acknowledged that while its expansion has been swift, the delivery of aircraft has been slower than anticipated due to issues with Boeing.
Nonetheless, Akasa Air is hopeful about its upcoming plans, noting that over 60% of its pilots have started to log flying hours and anticipates this figure will rise significantly by the end of the year.
Launched in December 2021, Akasa’s business strategy aimed for a growth to seventy-two B737-8s within five years of operation. The airline currently operates twenty-three of these, in addition to three B737-8-200s. It has placed orders for 101 B737-8-200s and ninety-nine B737-10s.

In 2024, Akasa Air received just three aircraft and, as recently reported by ch-aviation, Boeing advised it not to expect any further deliveries until the end of this quarter. Akasa then forecasts five aircraft deliveries in the second quarter of 2025. However, it will conclude the financial year, on March 31, with 15 fewer aircraft than initially planned.
According to The Hindu, Akasa is set to finish the financial year with 15 fewer deliveries than it had anticipated, having expected 42 aircraft at that point. Boeing deliveries saw a significant decline in 2024 following an incident where a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 9 on January 5, 2024.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed limits on the number of MAX jets that Boeing could manufacture each month, prompting the US aircraft manufacturer to reassess its quality and safety protocols.
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