When Akasa Air touched down on its first commercial flight in August 2022, India’s aviation landscape had a new contender. For years, IndiGo had dominated the skies with an iron grip—accounting for roughly 64% of domestic passenger traffic as recently as April 2025, according to DGCA data. But Akasa has been making noise. A sleek new fleet, a gourmet cabin menu, and an impressively high on-time record have earned it a loyal following in a short span of time.
So, if you’re weighing up your next booking, which airline actually delivers more value? Here’s a thorough breakdown across every category that matters.
Fleet and Network: Scale vs. Modernity
The numbers tell a stark story on this front. IndiGo operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A320 CEO and NEO, A321 NEO, and ATR 72-600 aircraft—with seating ranging from 78 seats on ATR turboprops to 232 on its widest A321 configuration. With over 100 destinations (80+ domestic, 30+ international), its network is simply unmatched in the Indian market.
Akasa Air, by contrast, operates an all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet. The airline has ordered 226 aircraft to be inducted over ten years, powered by the CFM LEAP-1B engine—delivering 20% lower fuel consumption and 50% less noise than older single-aisle types. As of early 2026, Akasa flies to 31 destinations, including six international routes.
The verdict: IndiGo wins on reach. If you’re flying to a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city, IndiGo almost certainly serves it. Akasa’s network is still growing, but for travellers on popular metro routes, it’s a very real option.
In-flight Experience: Cabin Comfort and Crew Service
Both airlines are LCCs (low-cost carriers), so neither offers lie-flat beds or premium cabin perks. That said, the experience onboard can vary noticeably.
Akasa’s Boeing 737 MAX features the Boeing Sky Interior—sculpted sidewalls, modern LED lighting, and window reveals that create a noticeably airier feel. The airline positions its crew service as “warm and inclusive,” leaning into a customer-first brand philosophy.
IndiGo’s cabin experience is functional and efficient. The A320 family is familiar and reliable, and the airline’s processes are well-oiled from years of scale. However, the sheer volume of passengers it handles means the experience can feel more transactional at times.
Neither airline currently offers in-flight Wi-Fi on domestic routes. Seat pitch is broadly comparable across both carriers in the LCC segment, though specific configurations vary by route and aircraft variant.
The verdict: Akasa edges ahead on cabin ambiance, thanks to the 737 MAX’s modern interior. For straightforward efficiency, IndiGo delivers consistently.
Food and Beverage: Regional Comfort vs. Gourmet Ambition
This is where the two airlines take noticeably different approaches—and it’s worth paying attention to if you fly regularly.
IndiGo’s 6E Eats service offers a pre-bookable menu built around familiar, crowd-pleasing options. The IndiGo Classics lineup includes items like a Paneer Tikka Sandwich (₹400) and Chicken Junglee Sandwich (₹500), each paired with a beverage. The #IndiaByIndiGo range adds regional flavours into the mix. Hot meals and beverages are available on flights over 60 minutes; ATR flights are limited to ambient-temperature items.
Akasa’s Café Akasa takes a considerably more adventurous route. The menu features 45 curated options, including dishes like Chicken Schnitzel on Creamy Garlic Spinach, Veg Fusion Gourmet Meal (mushroom and tofu kari pan, noodle salad, edamame, matcha mousse cake), a Masala Beetroot Burger, and a Peppy Paneer Sandwich with candied mango and charred bell pepper. Akasa also offers a protein bar and shake combo—a first in Indian aviation—alongside festival-themed seasonal menus. Packaging uses biodegradable wooden cutlery sourced from sustainably grown crops.
Both airlines allow pre-booking via their respective apps and websites, and both include a beverage with meal combos.
The verdict: Café Akasa is a clear step above 6E Eats in terms of menu creativity and variety. For food-focused travellers, it’s a genuine differentiator.
Pricing and Value: Baggage, Fares, and Loyalty
On base fares, both airlines use dynamic pricing, so comparing them at a fixed point is tricky. Generally, IndiGo’s scale gives it pricing leverage on high-frequency routes, while Akasa sometimes offers competitive introductory fares to build market share.
Baggage allowances are where a specific difference stands out:
| IndiGo | Akasa Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin baggage | 7 kg + 3 kg personal item | 7 kg (1 bag, up to 115 cm) |
| Domestic check-in | 15 kg | 15 kg |
IndiGo permits an additional personal article (laptop bag or ladies’ purse) up to 3 kg on top of the 7 kg carry-on—a small but useful advantage for business travellers.
On loyalty, IndiGo has the more developed programme. The IndiGo BluChip programme awards 8 BluChips per ₹100 spent on flights, with three tiers (Blu 3, Blu 2, Blu 1) unlocked through spend and flight milestones. Members can redeem BluChips for flights with no blackout dates, and a minimum of 500 BluChips is required to start redeeming. Akasa does not currently operate a frequent flyer programme of comparable depth.
Akasa does charge a ₹350 convenience fee per segment per passenger for bookings made online, via app, contact centre, or airport counter—worth factoring into price comparisons.
The verdict: IndiGo’s loyalty programme and slightly more generous carry-on policy give it an edge for frequent flyers. Akasa is working to close that gap with competitive base fares.
On-Time Performance: The Newcomer’s Surprise Advantage
This is arguably Akasa’s strongest card. According to the DGCA’s April 2025 domestic airline performance report—which measures OTP across six metro airports (Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata)—Akasa Air posted the highest on-time performance of any carrier month after month:
| Month | Akasa Air OTP | IndiGo OTP |
|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 93.7% | 89.8% |
| February 2025 | 95.1% | 91.7% |
| March 2025 | 92.5% | 84.6% |
| April 2025 | 93.0% | 86.9% |
Source: DGCA Monthly Domestic Airline Performance Report, April 2025
IndiGo, despite carrying far more passengers (64.1% market share in April 2025 vs. Akasa’s 5.0%), still posts respectable OTP numbers—but Akasa’s consistency is remarkable for a young airline. A smaller, standardised fleet operating on a tighter network likely contributes to that reliability.
On passenger complaints, both airlines performed well. Akasa recorded 0.5 complaints per 10,000 passengers in April 2025, while IndiGo logged 0.2—both well below the industry average of 0.64.
The verdict: Akasa Air leads on punctuality by a meaningful margin. For time-sensitive travellers, that’s not a minor footnote.
Choosing the Right Airline for Your Trip
Both airlines serve different traveller profiles well.
Fly IndiGo if:
- You need access to a wide domestic or international network, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities
- You’re a frequent flyer and want to accumulate loyalty points
- You value the familiarity of a well-established operation
Fly Akasa Air if:
- Your route is covered and on-time performance is a priority
- You care about the in-flight food experience
- You prefer flying on a newer, quieter aircraft with a more premium cabin feel
Neither airline is a clear-cut winner across every dimension. What tips the scales is what you personally value most—network breadth, punctuality, comfort, or food. The good news: Indian aviation is better for having both.