India's soon-to-be-launched airline Akasa Air is promising to offer affordable flying for all, despite the current industry challenges, and also aims to become the country's greenest carrier. From its aircraft choice to its headline-making cabin crew uniform, Akasa looks intent on delivering its sustainability promises.
Green goals
From its initial days, when Akasa Air was just a germ of an idea, to now, the airline has given us plenty to talk about. Whether it's starting an airline in the ultra-competitive Indian space during a pandemic to its business model of focusing on tier-2 and -3 cities, Akasa has updated the world with its plans over the months.
For some time now, we've also been hearing about the carrier's goals for making sustainability a priority. At a recent interview with the Economic Times, Akasa CEO spoke about the sustainability goals of the carrier, stating,
"Sustainability is a subject that is personal to Aditya (Ghosh) and me. We cannot be associated with a business that is not doing the best that they can. So, at Akasa, it starts with getting the world's most fuel-efficient engines. We have announced the use of recycled material in our uniforms. It's something you will see us doing at every step of the way."
At the heart of Akasa's green goals lie the choice of its aircraft and the crew's uniform. We're sure they'll expand the list as time progresses, but for now, let's examine these two aspects.
Fleet
Akasa Air has gone for the latest generation Boeing 737 airplanes from the MAX family, placing an order of 72 aircraft at the Dubai Airshow last year. Being the newest airline in India, it has the advantage of having a brand-new fleet equipped with the latest technology engines that consume less fuel and are less noisy.
According to Boeing, The 737 MAX 8 reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions by an additional 14% over today's most fuel-efficient single-aisle airplanes – and 20% better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service.
The 737 MAX family is powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and includes design updates such as the winglet that will result in less drag and further optimize the 737 MAX performance, especially on longer-range missions.
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Boeing adds that when compared to a fleet of 100 of today's most fuel-efficient airplanes, this new model will emit 350,000 fewer metric tons of CO2 and save more than 250 million pounds of fuel per year. The aircraft also incorporates the latest quiet engine technology to reduce the operational noise footprint of the airplane by up to 40%.
Indeed, London Stanstead Airport has noticed that Ryanair's 737 MAX airplanes are much less noisy than previous generation planes.
Speaking about the MAX, Dube told Business Today in June,
“Today, passengers are increasingly seeking environmentally friendly options to travel, and in this regard, Akasa is proud to be the world's most environmentally friendly airline with the youngest and greenest fleet in global aviation.”
Uniform
Akasa has been showered with praises over the last few days for its choice of cabin crew uniform. Many are impressed that the carrier has decided to put its employees' comfort first by replacing traditional footwear with sneakers. For female flight attendants, in particular, performing aircraft duties in heels can get uncomfortable.
But it's also the material of the attire that is a first for any airline in India. The lightweight sneakers by Vanilla Moon have been made from recycled rubber without the use of plastic.
The trouser and jacket fabric has been specially made for Akasa Air, using recycled polyester fabric, which is made from pet bottle plastic salvaged from marine waste.
Rajesh Pratap Singh, who worked with Akasa Air to create the uniform, says,
“These uniforms are a perfect amalgamation of style and sustainability and reflect Akasa Air's core values.”
Looks like Akasa Air is off to a good start on sustainability practices. Let's hope it sets more examples in the years to come.
What do you think about Akasa Air's green push? Do let us know in the comment section below.