Akasa Air, BPCL successfully operate commercial flight using 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Akasa Air on Tuesday successfully operated a commercial flight using conventional aviation turbine fuel blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL).

The flight departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 13:05 IST and arrived at Manohar International Airport, Goa, at 14:30 IST on September 8, 2026.

The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Akasa Air and BPCL in July 2026 to explore the adoption of SAF and other opportunities supporting aviation decarbonisation.


The flight will provide both organisations with insights and practical learnings that can help inform future initiatives, the companies said.

“Since inception, we have invested in next-generation aircraft, technology and responsible practices that enable more conscious and efficient operations, both on the ground and in the air. This flight with BPCL translates our partnership into tangible action,” said Ankur Goel, Chief Financial Officer, Akasa Air.

“Scaling SAF in India will require coordinated action across the ecosystem, supported by domestic supply, enabling policy and commercial viability. We are committed to exploring this transition,” he added.

Subhankar Sen, Director (Marketing), BPCL, said the transition from conventional fuels to sustainable alternatives is “both an environmental imperative and a strategic necessity for India”.

“BPCL remains firmly committed to advancing sustainable fuels as part of India's broader energy transition journey,” Sen said.

The flight comes as India works towards its ambition of achieving 5% SAF blending by 2030 and reflects the aviation industry's broader focus on reducing carbon emissions. It also contributes to the International Air Transport Association's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Akasa Air said sustainability has been embedded in its ethos since inception, with the airline continuing to implement initiatives focused on conscious and efficient operations.

The airline's Boeing 737 MAX fleet is a key enabler of its mission to operate one of the most environmentally progressive and fuel-efficient fleets in the Indian skies. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and incorporating advanced-technology winglets, the 737 MAX offers excellent economics, reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces.

Akasa Air has also partnered with OpenAirlines to implement SkyBreathe, a fuel management solution that uses advanced analytics to reduce carbon emissions and enhance operational efficiency across its network.

The airline said it was the first Indian airline to voluntarily opt out of traditional water-cannon salutes at route inaugurations, conserving over 5,50,000 litres of water to date.