Akasa Air plans training centre for its pilots

New budget airline Akasa Air plans to set up a training centre for its pilots and crew as it gears up to start flights later this year, its co-founder Vinay Dube told ET. The 14,000 sq ft centre will come up in Gurgaon, Haryana, Dube said in an interview.

The airline, majority owned by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, has already signed up 154 pilots, 115 cabin attendants and 14 engineers to join the airline. Dube, who is also the airline's CEO, said 26 of these pilots are already on the payroll.

Akasa, co-founded by former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh, has ordered 72 Boeing 737 Max aircraft and plans to launch its first flight in July.


Dube said the airline is yet to be summoned by the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, for a proving flight--a precursor to its air operator's licence.

Akasa, which is registered as SNV Aviation, received its initial regulatory approval, the no-objection certificate, on October 11 and has applied for the air operator's permit (AOP).