Representational Image | AFP
The delays in aircraft deliveries from aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus due to current geo-political tensions leading to supply chain issue have left many airlines red-faced and fuming. Most airlines have resorted to leasing additional aircraft to meet demand while some other have postponed their expansion plans indefinitely. On the receiving end of this crisis is none other than Akasa Air.
A recent report by Reuters have confirmed that senior executives of Akasa Air are critical of these delays and have shared their frustration privately, blaming the delays for operational problems. This growing challenges due to delays in Boeing plane deliveries have left many of its pilots without work.
Akasa currently operates 27 planes, but it has placed an order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. However, deliveries have been delayed after a mid-air panel blowout incident last year put Boeing’s 737 programme under closer regulatory inspection. This was followed by a seven-week-long workers’ strike at Boeing which further slowed the production.
Despite these setbacks, Akasa’s leadership has continued to express confidence in Boeing publicly. However, in a February town hall meeting with pilots, top executives openly admitted the strain caused by the delays. During the meeting, Priya Mehra, Akasa’s chief of strategic acquisitions, called Boeing the 'elephant in the room', saying the workers’ strike had caused 'sleepless nights', quoted Reuters as saying.
Co-founder Aditya Ghosh also criticised Boeing, referring to its issues as "retarding our speed."
"We just don’t have enough aircraft to fly nobody wants to sit at home and twiddle their thumbs," CEO Vinay Dube admitted to pilots.
Although airlines are facing challenges due to aircraft deliveries, they are refraining from openly criticizing Boeing, but tensions are escalating.
With aircraft delivery delays, the airline does not have enough planes to fly. This has led many Akasa pilots grounded Out of 775 pilots, only 465 (60%) are actively flying while 310 pilots are idle. “Most of the remaining 300 pilots will also be able to fly by the end of 2025,” the airline claims, but the airline has not shared a clear plan as to how this will work out?
Some pilots, speaking anonymously, have expressed frustration at being left without work for months. One pilot, as quoted by Reuters, said, "I am making peanuts sitting at home," explaining that without active flights, they lose out on incentives and career growth.
Pilots at Akasa earn a base salary between $35,000 and $111,000 per year, depending on their rank. However, they are required to repay a training bond of $41,700 if they leave early, making quitting a much more difficult choice.
Meanwhile, Akasa’s employee costs have more than tripled, reaching $90 million last year.
In December, the airline sent an email to pilots, encouraging them to "diversify their skills" by working in other areas like IT and maintenance. However, it also made it clear that this would not come with additional pay.
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