Akasa Air Expands Middle Eastern Route with New Flights to Jeddah from India

Akasa Air, India's rapidly growing airline, has marked a significant expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by launching direct flights from Mumbai to Jeddah, commencing on July 15, 2024. The inaugural flight, which left Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 19:35 IST, touched down at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport at 22:25 AST. The airline has introduced daily direct services between Jeddah and Mumbai, with plans to increase this to 12 direct flights weekly starting July 21, 2024. Following the Mumbai launch, Akasa Air will begin operations between Jeddah and Ahmedabad, offering two direct flights each week starting July 20, 2024.

The launch was celebrated with a warm reception at King Abdulaziz International Airport, attended by the leadership teams from both Akasa Air and the airport, underscoring the importance of this new route.

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Akasa Air, expressed his enthusiasm for the expansion, stating, "We are delighted to expand our international network with the launch of operations to Jeddah. The response to our Mumbai-Riyadh route has been encouraging and reflects the need for enhanced connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia." He emphasized that the new direct flights to Jeddah would boost trade and provide more options for pilgrims traveling from India to Jeddah, contributing to increased inbound tourism.

In addition to enhancing the India-Saudi Arabia air link, this expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia's objective to attract 7.5 million Indian visitors by 2030, supporting the kingdom's ambitious tourism and economic goals.

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Experience Officer at Akasa Air, highlighted the customer experience, "The launch of operations to Jeddah is another step in our journey to bring the warm and efficient Akasa experience to the world. Passengers on board can enjoy a diverse culinary offering with our onboard meal service, Café Akasa, and benefit from the comfort of our spacious cabins, which include USB ports for charging personal devices." He also pointed out that new services such as Skyscore by Akasa and QuietFlights enhance the in-flight experience, ensuring that every journey is memorable and seamless.

Since its inception in August 2022, Akasa Air has become a preferred carrier in India, having served over 10 million passengers. The airline's commitment to punctuality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction has solidified its reputation in the competitive aviation market. Currently, Akasa Air connects 22 domestic and four international cities including Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and now Jeddah, with additional rights to operate flights to Kuwait and Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This strategic expansion into Jeddah not only extends Akasa Air's footprint in the Middle East but also plays a crucial role in catering to the growing travel demands between these two regions, offering passengers a reliable and enjoyable travel experience.