Akasa Air has resumed pilot hiring after an 18-month pause, founder and chief executive Vinay Dube said on Wednesday. The move follows progress in aircraft deliveries and supports near-term fleet expansion plans in India.
The airline stopped pilot recruitment in June 2024 after delivery delays from Boeing disrupted capacity plans. Akasa restarted hiring during November and December after receiving updated delivery schedules.
Why pilot hiring restarted now
Dube said pilot hiring depends directly on aircraft induction timelines. When deliveries slipped, the airline paused recruitment to avoid excess crew capacity.
Akasa currently employs 757 pilots across its network. The airline plans to add pilots in line with new aircraft joining the fleet.
Fleet growth and delivery status
Akasa operates an all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet. The airline currently has 32 aircraft in service.
One aircraft is scheduled to arrive from the United States this week. Two more aircraft will join the fleet next month.
The additions will increase Akasa’s fleet size to 34 aircraft by the end of February. Most Indian carriers operate mixed fleets, unlike Akasa.
Regulatory rules drive staffing needs
Revised duty-time norms took effect on 1 October last year. The rules limit flights operated by pilots between midnight and 6 am.
Airlines now require more cockpit crew to maintain schedules. Pilot availability has become a growth constraint across the sector.
Akasa said it complies fully with Civil Aviation Requirements issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Dube said the airline follows the rules without exception.
Industry position and market context
Akasa is the third airline to restart pilot hiring, after IndiGo and the Air India Group. Staffing pressures surfaced in December after flight disruptions linked to crew shortages.
Three years after launch, Akasa overtook SpiceJet to become India’s third-largest airline by revenue in the April–June quarter last year. The airline held a 4.7% domestic market share in November, according to DGCA data.
Dube said Indian aviation growth also depends on domestic financing, airport capacity, and skill development.
