Flying Green: Akasa Air Saves 60,000 Litres of Water Per Aircraft Through Sustainability Initiatives

NEW DELHI (India CSR): As the world unites to mark Earth Day 2025, Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, reaffirms its commitment to building an environmentally responsible airline by integrating sustainability into every facet of its operations. Through thoughtful use of responsible products and practices, the airline has achieved a significant milestone—saving approximately 60,000 litres of water per aircraft. 

The value of sustainability is deeply rooted in Akasa Air’s DNA, prompting the airline to introduce several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact and offer passengers an all-around sustainable travel experience since its inception. 

Redefining traditions to prioritise sustainability 

In a pioneering move, Akasa Air was the first Indian airline to forgo ceremonial water cannon salutes at flight and route inaugurations, in a bid to prevent unnecessary water wastage.

E-Waste management with eNamo 

As part of its sustainability drive, Akasa Air has partnered with eNamo to responsibly manage electronic waste across its offices and operations. Dedicated e-waste booths have been set up to provide employees with a convenient and responsible way to dispose of used electronics. To date, the initiative has helped recycle batteries and other electronic waste, successfully preventing several metric tons of carbon emissions. 

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Adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) at airports 

Akasa Air continues to scale up the use of electric vehicles (EVs) for passenger and baggage transportation at airports. By replacing conventional, fossil-fuel-based vehicles with EVs, the airline is actively reducing its carbon footprint on the ground and contributing to cleaner airport environments. This initiative has already helped prevent over 196,300 kilograms of carbon emissions, reflecting Akasa Air’s focus on long-term, measurable impact. 

A sustainable fleet management strategy to lower environmental impact 

The brand new 737 MAX airplane fleet supports Akasa Air’s mission to become an environmentally  

progressive company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies. Powered by CFM  

International LEAP-1B engines and incorporating advanced technology winglets, the 737 MAX offers  

excellent economics, reducing fuel use and emissions by 20 per cent compared to the airplanes it  

replaces. Moreover, the Boeing 737 is a quieter aircraft, creating a 50 per cent smaller noise footprint and offering 20 per cent lower airframe maintenance costs. 

Use of responsible products and practices 

Committed to reducing environmental impact in daily operations, Akasa Air has replaced several  paper products used in flight, with sustainable and recyclable alternatives. For instance, the previously used virgin, bleached-to-white paper in the lavatories has been replaced with bleach-free, recycled paper. All perishable meal packaging is 100 per cent recyclable and made from paper ethically sourced from sustainably grown crops which are manufactured without bleach or optical brightening agents (OBA). The airline also uses biodegradable wooden cutlery on board. 

A first-of-its-kind crew uniform with an equal focus on sustainability and comfort 

Akasa Air extends its sustainability efforts to uniform design. The crew trousers and jackets are crafted using recycled polyester fabric derived from marine waste plastic bottles. Furthermore, no plastic is used in the manufacture of crew shoes, and the soles are made from recycled rubber exemplifying Akasa’s commitment to environmental consciousness without compromising on comfort. 

Waste Management and eco-conscious operations 

With respect to sustainable waste disposal methods, since its inception, Akasa Air has been industry-leading in instituting best practices in waste management across operations with the usage of biodegradable bags and waste management products. The plastic zip lock bag being used for the Café Akasa menu has been discontinued. The airline’s offices, stations, and training centres are administratively guided to follow sustainable practices such as reduced paper and single-use plastic usage; LED lighting, and reusable products in common areas such as pantries. Moreover, Akasa Air Learning Academy in Gurugram is equipped with a Sewage treatment plan (STP) and the recycled water is used for horticulture.  

As Akasa Air continues to scale new heights, it remains steadfast in its goal of being the world’s most environmentally progressive airline. With many more green initiatives on the horizon, the airline will continue to make meaningful strides toward a cleaner, greener future. 

Akasa Air’s empathetic and youthful personality, employee-friendly culture, customer-service philosophy, and tech-led approach have made it the airline of choice for millions of customers. Since its inception, Akasa Air has redefined flying in India with its multiple industry-first and customer-friendly offerings. Its brand-new fleet provides ample legroom and enhanced comfort and comes with USB ports in a majority of aircraft, allowing passengers to charge their gadgets and devices on the go. 

Café Akasa, the airline’s onboard meal service offers an assortment of healthy and delectable meals, including festive menus and industry-first options such as Kombucha, to offer customers an indulgent gourmet experience in the skies. Pets on Akasa allows customers to travel with their pets in the cabin or to carry them in cargo, based on their weight.

Akasa Air offers over 25+ ancillary products to deliver on its promise of exceptional customer service such as Akasa GetEarly, Seat & Meal Deal, Extra Seat and Akasa Holidays which offer personalization that is second to none. Consistently enhancing the cabin experience for its customers, Akasa has launched several industry-firsts such as SkyScore by Akasa, SkyLights and QuietFlights. Akasa Air has introduced its safety instruction card and onboard menu card in Braille for people with visual impairment. 

(India CSR)