Akasa Air's international network in 2026 — the Gulf expansion, route by route
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma writes about Indian airlines, fleet and aircraft strategy, route economics and airport operations for FlightGPT. He tracks DGCA filings, airline fleet press kits and the published cabin specs of IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air and the major Gulf carriers, and flags what is confirmed versus merely announced.) · Published · Last updated · 10 min read
India's youngest airline has gone international fast — and the Gulf is the heart of it. Here's Akasa Air's 2026 network: which Gulf cities it flies, the 737 MAX behind the range, what's been suspended amid West Asia tensions, and what's next.
Quick answer
Akasa Air, India's newest scheduled airline (first flight August 2022), began international flying in March 2024 with Mumbai-Doha and by 2026 its overseas map is built around the Gulf: Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, plus Phuket in Southeast Asia. It flies these on its single-type fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the higher-capacity 737 MAX 8-200 (the fleet crossed 38 aircraft by April 2026). Note the live caveat: amid West Asia tensions in early 2026, Akasa suspended several Gulf routes (Doha, Riyadh, Kuwait) into mid-April 2026, with Abu Dhabi resumption under review, while Jeddah kept operating from five Indian cities. Always check current status on Akasa Air before booking — Gulf schedules in 2026 are unusually fluid.
From startup to international in under two years
Akasa Air is remarkable for how fast it went global. It launched domestically in August 2022, and under India's rules a new carrier could traditionally only fly international once it hit a fleet/experience threshold — a bar Akasa cleared quickly thanks to an aggressive Boeing 737 MAX order book. Its first international flight, Mumbai-Doha, operated on 28 March 2024, making it one of the fastest Indian start-ups ever to go cross-border.
The Gulf was the obvious first frontier, and not by accident. The India-Gulf market is the densest international corridor India has — driven by a huge expatriate workforce, family travel, pilgrimage (Umrah/Hajj via Jeddah and Medina) and business. For a single-aisle airline, the Gulf is also within comfortable 737 range from western and southern India, so Akasa could serve it with the same aircraft it already flies domestically. For how the Gulf market is contested across aircraft types, see our wide-body vs narrow-body India-Gulf guide.
The 2026 Gulf map — city by city
As of 2026, Akasa's Gulf network spans five cities. Here's the picture, with the honesty caveat that schedules in this region were disrupted in early 2026:
- Doha (Qatar) — the inaugural international route from Mumbai (28 March 2024), since expanded to more Indian cities.
- Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) — launched mid-2024.
- Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) — a pilgrimage and expat gateway; in 2026 Akasa operated Jeddah from five Indian cities: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Kozhikode, and kept it running even while other Gulf routes were paused.
- Kuwait — added as Akasa secured traffic rights.
- Abu Dhabi (UAE) — daily Mumbai-Abu Dhabi from 11 July 2024.
Beyond the Gulf, Akasa flies Phuket in Thailand, giving it six international destinations as of early 2026. You can compare live fares on these corridors — for example Mumbai-Doha, Mumbai-Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru-Jeddah — on FlightGPT.
The 2026 disruption — why Gulf schedules wobbled
This is the part travellers most need to know for 2026. Amid heightened tensions in West Asia in early 2026 and associated airspace restrictions, Akasa — like several Indian and Gulf carriers — suspended or trimmed Gulf operations. Reporting indicated Akasa extended suspensions on Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait until at least 12 April 2026, kept Abu Dhabi resumption under review, and continued operating Jeddah from its five Indian-city network.
If you're booking an Akasa Gulf flight in 2026, treat schedules as subject to short-notice change. Concretely: book directly where possible so you're first in line for rebooking, keep your contact details current in the booking so the airline can reach you, and don't build a tight onward connection on a separate ticket around an Akasa Gulf sector during the disruption window. Check the live status on Akasa Air the day before you fly. For your rights when a flight is cancelled or delayed, India's DGCA passenger-charter rules govern care, rebooking and refunds — see our airline-policy coverage for the specifics.
The aircraft behind the range — one fleet, one type
Akasa's whole strategy rests on a single-type fleet of Boeing 737 MAX jets. Its order book included 737 MAX 8 and the higher-density 737 MAX 8-200 variants, topped up by a large additional MAX order in 2024, and the fleet passed 38 aircraft by April 2026 after a fast induction run (it added several frames in just the first few months of 2026).
Why a single type matters for an international plan:
- Range. The 737 MAX 8/8-200 comfortably covers India-Gulf sectors from western and southern India, and its extended range opens Southeast Asia (Phuket) and more.
- Cost. One aircraft type means one set of pilot ratings, one spares pool and one maintenance programme — the classic low-cost efficiency that lets Akasa price aggressively.
- Flexibility. The same jet can fly a domestic sector in the morning and a Gulf sector in the evening, so capacity can shift between domestic and international with demand.
The trade-off is that Akasa cannot (yet) serve ultra-long-haul or very high-capacity widebody markets — it competes on the single-aisle medium-haul battlefield, where the Gulf sits perfectly. For the cabin and fare structure, our Indian low-cost carrier comparison sets the context.
What's next — the announced pipeline
Akasa has been open about wanting to expand its international map well beyond five Gulf cities. Its publicly flagged pipeline over 2026-27 points toward additional Gulf and short/medium-haul international markets — names that have appeared in its plans include Sharjah, plus regional Asia destinations such as Kathmandu, Dhaka and Singapore, and longer-term ambitions toward Central Asia and Southeast Asia (a Vietnam launch has been linked to 2026). Akasa has also previously secured rights toward Kuwait and Medina.
Two honesty notes. First, an announced or rights-secured route is not a flying route — airlines routinely flag destinations months or years before (or instead of) actually launching them, and the 2026 West Asia disruption has reshuffled near-term priorities. Second, everything here is the published plan as of mid-2026; the only authoritative, current schedule is on Akasa's own site. Use FlightGPT to see which Akasa international routes are actually bookable on your dates, and compare them against the established Gulf carriers before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gulf cities does Akasa Air fly to in 2026?
Akasa Air's 2026 Gulf network covers Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, plus Phuket in Southeast Asia (six international destinations in total). However, several Gulf routes were suspended into mid-April 2026 amid West Asia tensions, with Jeddah the Gulf city that kept operating. Check live status on Akasa Air before booking.
When did Akasa Air start international flights?
Akasa Air began international operations on 28 March 2024 with Mumbai-Doha, less than two years after its domestic launch in August 2022. Abu Dhabi followed with daily Mumbai service from 11 July 2024, alongside Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuwait.
What aircraft does Akasa Air use on Gulf routes?
Akasa operates a single-type fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the higher-capacity 737 MAX 8-200, which crossed 38 aircraft by April 2026. The 737 MAX's range comfortably covers India-Gulf sectors from western and southern India, and a single aircraft type keeps Akasa's costs low.
Were Akasa Air's Gulf flights cancelled in 2026?
Several were suspended. Amid West Asia tensions and airspace restrictions in early 2026, Akasa extended suspensions on Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait until at least 12 April 2026, kept Abu Dhabi resumption under review, and continued operating Jeddah from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Kozhikode. Treat Gulf schedules as subject to short-notice change and confirm before flying.
From which Indian cities does Akasa Air fly to Jeddah?
In 2026 Akasa operated Jeddah from five Indian cities: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi and Kozhikode. Jeddah is a key pilgrimage (Umrah/Hajj) and expatriate gateway, and Akasa kept it running even while other Gulf routes were paused.
What new international routes is Akasa Air planning?
Akasa's publicly flagged pipeline points toward more Gulf and medium-haul markets — names linked to its plans include Sharjah, plus regional Asia such as Kathmandu, Dhaka and Singapore, with a Vietnam launch linked to 2026. Remember that an announced or rights-secured route is not the same as a flying one; confirm bookable dates on Akasa's site.