Akasa Air, India's fastest growing airline, has announced the appointment of Belson Coutinho as its Chief Operating Officer, effective 6 January 2025. Belson will lead Akasa Air's key operational functions as the airline continues its path to becoming one of the world's top 30 airlines by the end of this decade.
In his new role, Belson will be responsible for inflight services, airport services, maintenance and engineering, flight operations, IOCC, operational excellence and lead the Akasa Air Learning Academy. With over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, Belson has delivered several industry-first initiatives in Indian aviation through his strong operational, strategic and leadership skills.
Commenting on the appointment, Vinay Dubey, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air, said, “We are delighted to welcome Belson to the role of Chief Operating Officer of Akasa Air. Belson's multifaceted role over the years has seen him successfully collaborate with cross-functional teams across airline operations, developing a good understanding of the functioning of operational departments. His passion for brand building, service excellence, training, technology, processes, employee centricity and a sharp focus on cost leadership equip him to bring tremendous value to his new role as our COO. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to enhance our operational efficiency, embody our values of service excellence and make significant progress towards achieving our vision of becoming a world-class airline.”
Belson has been a part of Akasa Air's executive committee since the airline's inception in 2022. Prior to assuming the role of co-founder and chief operating officer, Belson held the position of co-founder and chief marketing and experience officer at Aksa Air where he was instrumental in shaping the brand's vision, driving category-redefining customer-centric initiatives and building a strong The foundation of the airline's unprecedented growth.
Akasa Air's operational efficiency and extremely positive customer feedback have made it a carrier of choice in India, serving more than 14 million passengers since its launch in August 2022. Akasa Air currently connects 22 domestic and five international cities namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair, Ayodhya. , Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah, Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Kuwait City (Kuwait).