Akasa Air Co-founder & Senior VP Neelu Khatri quits airline

Akasa Air on Thursday announced that its Co-founder and Senior Vice President – International, Neelu Khatri, has decided to step down from her role to pursue a new professional path.

Khatri, a former Indian Air Force officer, was among the founding team members of Akasa Air, which commenced operations in August 2022. She played a key role in establishing the airline’s operational framework during its formative phase, as the carrier rapidly expanded its domestic network and entered international markets earlier this year.

Confirming the development, an Akasa Air 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.”

The airline clarified that its growth strategy and overseas expansion plans remain unaffected by her exit. “Akasa Air’s existing international operations and our exciting international expansion ambitions remain unchanged,” the spokesperson added.

In recent times, there have been some executive-level exits at the carrier. In August, the airline announced completion of fund raising from investors, including Premji Invest and Claypond Capital.

Backed by late billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Akasa Air has swiftly grown to become one of India’s fastest-expanding carriers, operating over 1,000 flights weekly across 24 domestic and 6 international destinations. Currently, Akasa Air has a fleet of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.