'Airfares can rise further while still being affordable'

Airfares in India are still among the lowest in the world, giving Indian carriers significant headroom to increase them while ensuring they remain affordable, Akasa Air Founder and Chief Executive Officer Vinay Dube said in an interview with Business Standard.

- DEEPAK PATEL

When asked if Akasa Air plans to follow IndiGo, which recently announced it would be introducing business class in its planes, he replied, "For the moment, no. Will we have a particular type of seat for 810 customers? No."

Moreover, he challenged the characterisation of airlines as solely "low-cost" or "fullservice". "I do not believe it is such a binary state. Akasa today is India's most on-time airline. That, to me, is the highest level of service we could provide to our consumers. So why would you not consider us to be a full-service carrier already?" he asked.

A full-service airline typically offers a range of amenities and services beyond just transportation from one place to another. These may include things like free meals and snacks during the flight, a wider choice of seat options including business or first class, more legroom, in-flight entertainment systems, and sometimes even amenities like blankets, pillows, and toiletry kits.