Launches daily direct flights connecting Riyadh
with Mumbai
In line with Saudi Arabia’s aim of tripling air
passenger numbers by 2030
Riyadh is Akasa Air’s second destination in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, commenced operations
from Riyadh, connecting it to Mumbai with daily direct flights. The
inaugural flight on 15th June 2024 departed Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 2220hrs IST and arrived
at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 0015hrs AST.
Riyadh is the second destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to
be included in Akasa Air’s network and strengthens the airline’s
presence in the region, providing reliable, affordable, and
enhanced options for air travel on the route.
As a rapidly growing financial centre, Riyadh has been
witnessing a consistent uptick in business and MICE travellers from
around the globe. The dynamic city offers a blend of ultra-modern
and medieval architecture and is also emerging as an attractive
destination for leisure tourists and culture enthusiasts.
The maiden flight received a warm welcome at King Khalid
International Airport where its arrival was graced by in the
presence of the leadership teams of Akasa Air and King Khalid
International Airport to commemorate the occasion.
Commenting on the destination launch, Neelu Khatri,
Co-Founder and SVP International, Akasa Air, said: “We are
pleased to commence operations from Riyadh, our third international
destination on our rapidly growing international network. The
city’s flourishing trade prospects and dynamic tourist attractions
have made it an increasingly popular destination for a variety of
Indian travellers.
“The Government of Saudi Arabia’s forward-looking strategy to
enhance the nation’s global air connectivity will further bolster
air travel demand to and from the region in the coming years.
“We are thankful to King Khalid International Airport for their
support in establishing this connection,” she added.
Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer,
further shared: “We are delighted to strengthen our presence in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the commencement of services to
Riyadh. The city holds immense potential as a tourist destination,
and the launch of daily direct flights, connecting the city with
Mumbai will enhance passenger and cargo capacity on the route,
catering to the growing demand for trade and tourism.
“Akasa Air has emerged as India’s most reliable airline in a
short time. As we rapidly grow our global presence, we remain
committed to taking the dependable and affordable Akasa experience
to the world.”
Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and
Experience Officer, Akasa Air, added: “We are excited to extend
the signature Akasa experience to Riyadh, our third international
destination. At Akasa Air, service excellence is in our DNA, and we
have progressively introduced multiple customer-friendly offerings
to ensure a warm and efficient flying experience. We are confident
that travellers on the route will appreciate the distinguished and
diverse culinary options with our onboard meal service Café Akasa,
and the fresh in-cabin experience that offers enhanced comfort and
ample legroom, backed by the signature service delivered by our
crew on board and on the ground.
“Offerings like Skyscore by Akasa and QuietFlights will further
elevate the inflight experience of our passengers. Moreover,
travellers who wish to explore Riyadh can choose to plan their
travel with Akasa Holidays which offers customisable and
all-inclusive holiday packages at affordable prices. Our
category-redefining offerings have set new standards for air travel
in India. As we expand our global footprint, we look forward to
hosting an increasing number of travellers from across the world,”
he added.
Akasa Air forayed into international skies with the launch of
operations to Doha, the capital of Qatar, on 28th March 2024. In
May 2024, the airline announced operations from Jeddah, and the
launch of flights to Riyadh will provide further impetus to the
Saudi Arabian government’s aim of enhancing global connectivity,
tripling air passenger footfall and handling 5 million tons of
freight by 2030.
Akasa Air has also been granted traffic rights for three other
international destinations namely Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Medina, and
will continue to rapidly expand its global presence in the coming
months.
The airline has introduced multiple quality products and
differentiated services to ensure an inclusive, warm, and
comfortable flying experience. Its brand-new fleet provides ample
legroom and enhanced comfort and comes with USB ports in a majority
of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their devices on the go.
Café Akasa, the airline’s onboard meal service, offers an
assortment of healthy and delectable meals, including festive menus
and industry-first options such as Kombucha, to offer customers an
indulgent gourmet experience in the skies. Travelers who wish to
explore Riyadh can choose to plan their travel with Akasa Holidays
which offers customisable and all-inclusive holiday packages at
affordable prices. Skyscore by Akasa provides live scores of all
major sporting events onboard, and the airline’s QuietFlights
experience offers a restful inflight environment on early morning
and late-night flights. In addition, in an endeavour to make travel
inclusive, Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and
onboard menu card in Braille for persons with visual
impairment.
Akasa Air’s consistent on-time leadership, operational
efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback have made it
a preferred carrier in India, and the airline has served over 10
million passengers since its launch in August 2022. Akasa Air
currently connects with 25 cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad,
Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune,
Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata,
Port Blair, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Doha
(Qatar), Jeddah and Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).
Flight schedule:
Flt.
Number
From
Departure
Time
To
Arrival
Time
Operating
Days
Non-stop/
Through
Commences 15 June 2024
QP 0567
Mumbai
2005hrs
Riyadh
2155hrs
Daily
Non-stop
QP 0568
Riyadh
2255hrs
Mumbai
0535hrs
Daily
Non-stop
*Schedule might differ on certain dates due to operational
reasons
About Akasa Air:
Akasa Air is India’s most dependable airline, offering warm and
efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable
fares - all in the Akasa Way. Akasa’s youthful personality,
employee-centric philosophy, tech-led approach, and culture of
service make this commitment a reality for all Indians.
The carrier launched its first commercial flight on 07 August
2022 to support the growing demand across India and commenced
international operations on 28 March 2024, offering non-stop
flights from Mumbai to Doha. This milestone makes it the first
Indian airline to fly overseas within a record period of just 19
months. Internationally, Akasa Air operates flights to Doha and
Riyadh and has opened for the sale of tickets to Jeddah (Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia). Additionally, Akasa Air has also been granted
traffic rights for Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and Medina (Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia). Since its inception, Akasa Air has served over 10 million
passengers and connects 25 cities.
With a clear focus on sustained, long-term growth, Akasa Air has
placed a firm order of 226 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM
fuel-efficient, LEAP-1B engines. It currently operates 24 737 MAX
aircraft which delivers superior efficiency in reducing fuel use
and carbon emissions. The aircraft also powers a quieter cabin with
40 per cent less noise fulfilling the airline's promise of being an
environmentally progressive company with the youngest and greenest
fleet in the Indian skies.
For more information visit www.akasaair.com or via X: @AkasaAir
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/akasaair/
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