Vinay Dube is in a hurry to take Akasa global

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Editor's note: Seven months is too soon. But Akasa Air, which took off in August 2022, has had the best start by an airline in India yet. Even IndiGo, whose 2006 launch influenced Akasa’s own blueprint, didn’t have it so good.  Akasa, led by founder-CEO Vinay Dube, has steadily grown its share in the domestic market to 3% as of February, and at this rate may soon start troubling SpiceJet and Go First, two airlines beset with problems that include sliding market share. Its fleet has increased to 19 aircraft. The rate of expansion has been furious, especially in the last three months, when it added nearly a dozen Boeing 737 Max planes. The airline connects all the metros and its network—consisting of 17 destinations at present—is expanding fast.  IndiGo—which also started in August—had less than 10 aircraft at the end of its first financial year, says a partner with a multinational consulting firm, asking not to be named. “Akasa is more than twice that already. IndiGo had taken about two years to reach the 20-aircraft mark, something Akasa may reach anytime …