Akasa Air received the Certificate of No Objection from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in October last year.
Bombay:
The launch of Akasa Air’s services is likely to be further delayed as the airline is not expected to receive its first aircraft until June or July, a senior DGCA official said.
The airline, backed by top investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, initially planned to launch in June and then postponed the plan until July.
A top airline official said it plans to begin services in July.
The Mumbai-based airline, registered as SNV Aviation, received the mandatory certificate of no objection from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in October last year.
Once the aircraft is inaugurated, the airline must conduct a series of successful test flights.
“The delivery of their (Akasa Air) aircraft has been delayed and is expected to be around June/July. As for the other procedures, they are all on track,” the DGCA official told PTI.
When contacted, Akasa Air said it expected to receive the first aircraft by mid-June and plans to begin commercial operations in July.
“We expect our first aircraft to be delivered in mid-June 2022. The first aircraft will assist us with our operating license and the proof of flights will be held as per legal requirements prior to receipt of the AOP (Air Operator Permit)”, Akasa Air Founder, Managing Director Vinay Dube said in a statement to PTI.
He also said the airline plans to begin commercial operations in July 2022 and is on track for later aircraft introductions to fly 18 aircraft by the end of March 2023.
A test flight, which may originate from one airport and fly to another, is part of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s process for the incorporation of a new aircraft type into an airline’s fleet. It consists of five sectors (legs) with a total block time of 10 hours or more.
This may be a diversion to an alternate airport or destination.
