Akasa Air has forged a long-term partnership with CAE to conduct pilot training for Boeing 737MAX aircraft at CAE's facilities in India. Over the next 15 years, Akasa Air will make use of CAE's training resources, including instructors and full-flight simulators.
The agreement comes on the heels of Akasa Air's recent announcement in mid-February of its plans to venture into international operations. In January, the Indian airline expanded its horizons by adding two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet.
Rumors abound that the Indian budget carrier is on the verge of placing an order for approximately 150 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbody planes, aiming to capitalize on the burgeoning travel demand in the world's fastest-growing aviation market.
Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO of Akasa Air, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "As we anticipate a significant influx of aircraft over the next decade, this collaboration will grant us access to top-notch training facilities for the next 15 years, aiding us in cultivating a team of highly skilled and experienced pilots, as we strive to establish ourselves as one of the world's safest airlines."
Since the launch of Akasa Air's operations in 2022, CAE has been actively involved in training its pilots, offering infrastructure support and a comprehensive simulation training curriculum.
Nick Leontidis, Group President of Civil Aviation at CAE, commented, "This long-term agreement underscores the excellence of our pilot training programs and the strong partnership we have developed with Akasa within a relatively short span of time."
With a significant presence in India, CAE operates 13 simulators across three commercial aviation training centers, delivering crucial pilot training services to Indian airlines. In 2023, CAE achieved recognition as a Boeing Authorized Training Provider for Boeing's Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) curriculum in India.