Akasa co-founder Neelu Khatri quits airline

NEW DELHI: Akasa co-founder and head of international operations Neelu Khatri is leaving the airline to pursue other opportunities. The former Indian Air Force officer was among the founding members of Akasa which had started flying in Aug 2022 and had played the young airline’s network amid unending delay in aircraft deliveries from Boeing of its 226 ordered B737 MAX .

In a mail to employees, Akasa Akasa & CEO Vinay Dube said Khatri is leaving the airline after five “incredible years” to “embark on a new adventure in her career.” “Since our inception, Neelu has played a pivotal role… under her leadership Akasa’s first international flight departed on March 28, 2024, making us the only airline to launch international operations within 19 months of launch…. Under Neelu’s leadership we launched out first codeshare partnership with Etihad in March 2025,” Dube’s mail says.

The term “Akasians” was coined by Khatri for the airline’s employees. “Neelu has planned her transition together with ExCom to ensure that (our) existing international operations and our exciting international expansion ambitions remain unchanged,” Dube’s mail says.

Akasa is India’s third largest airline followed by IndiGo and Air India group. Initially funded by late billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Akasa today operates over 1,000 flights weekly across 24 domestic & 6 international destinations and has 30 B737 MAX in its fleet as of now.

An Akasa spokesperson said: ”Akasa Air confirms that Neelu Khatri, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President- International, has decided to move on from the company to pursue a new direction in her professional journey. An early believer in Akasa, Neelu has been integral in building on our vision and backing our early success. The company extends its sincere appreciation for her contributions and wishes her the very best in her future endeavours. Akasa Air’s existing international operations and our exciting international expansion ambitions remain unchanged.”