Akasa Air’s co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer Praveen Iyer will leave the airline at the end of April, marking the latest senior leadership exit at the fast-growing low-cost carrier.
The company confirmed the resignation to Storyboard18, saying Iyer will remain in place until April 30, 2026, to support what it described as a smooth and structured transition.
Following his departure, co-founder and Chief Information Officer Anand Srinivasan will take over as Chief Commercial Officer. Akasa Air’s IT function will now report to Chief Financial Officer Ankur Goel.
Iyer has more than 25 years of experience across commercial and aviation technology roles in India and international markets. He was part of the founding leadership team that launched Akasa Air in August 2022, helping shape the airline’s early commercial strategy and expansion plans.
“Building Akasa Air has been a defining journey and a deeply fulfilling experience,” Iyer said in a statement carried by Storyboard18. He added that he was proud of what the airline has achieved in a short period and expressed confidence in its next phase of growth.
Iyer’s exit adds to a growing list of senior-level departures at Akasa Air over the past nine months, highlighting continued churn at the top even as the airline scales operations.
In October 2025, co-founder and Senior Vice President for International Operations Neelu Khatri stepped down. Other key resignations in the second half of 2025 included senior leaders overseeing long-term operations strategy, aircraft acquisition and leasing, and catering, Storyboard18 reported.
Akasa Air, backed by the late investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, began commercial flights in August 2022 and has expanded its domestic and international footprint while building out its fleet.
The airline has placed a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and currently operates 33 planes, according to the report. It also posted a 49% revenue increase in fiscal year 2025, alongside improved operating margins and lower unit costs excluding fuel.
Leadership transitions come at a critical moment for India’s aviation market, where competition among low-cost carriers is intensifying and operational efficiency is under pressure from rising demand, fleet constraints and pricing volatility.
Akasa Air’s ability to maintain strategic continuity while managing executive turnover will be closely watched as it moves into its next stage of growth.