Akasa Air is discussing another major Boeing order that could take its total commitments to more than 400 737 MAX jets, despite having started operations only four years ago.
The Indian airline is in talks to purchase more than 200 additional MAX aircraft, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
Akasa Air has already ordered 226 737 MAX jets from Boeing and currently operates 43 aircraft, leaving 183 still to be delivered.
Adding at least another 200 aircraft would increase its historical orders to more than 426 MAX jets and leave the airline with a backlog exceeding 380 aircraft at current fleet levels.
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The discussions are still at an early stage. A decision is expected in early 2027, while commercial terms could be finalized only during the second half of next year, according to Bloomberg. The negotiations may still end without a firm order.
New order would cover growth after 2032
Akasa Air is already scheduled to receive aircraft from its existing Boeing backlog through the beginning of the next decade.
The US manufacturer received its largest order from the airline in January 2024, when Akasa Air purchased 150 MAX 10 and MAX 8-200 jets. The deal increased its total orders to 226 aircraft. At the time, Akasa Air had a fleet of only 22 MAX jets.
The US airline has since nearly doubled its fleet and is now India's third-largest carrier. It plans to increase capacity by around 30% by March 2027.
Akasa Air previously said it intended to have all 226 aircraft from its existing orders in its fleet by 2032. A new order would secure deliveries for continued expansion beyond that point.
Boeing delays previously affected Akasa Air
Committing to another large Boeing order would come after Akasa Air experienced significant disruption from delays in MAX deliveries.
The airline had hired pilots in anticipation of faster fleet growth, but Boeing's production problems left hundreds without regular flying assignments.
Reuters reported in March 2025 that 310 of Akasa Air's 775 pilots were not flying as aircraft deliveries fell behind schedule. Senior executives had privately expressed frustration over the delays while publicly maintaining their support for Boeing.
Akasa Air has remained committed to a single-manufacturer fleet. Its 2024 order included both the high-density MAX 8-200 and the larger MAX 10, which is now approaching certification.
