Praveen Iyer, one of the founding members of Akasa Air, has resigned from his position as Chief Commercial Officer. Beginning May 1, Chief Information Officer Anand Srinivasan will assume responsibility for the airline’s commercial division, marking a significant leadership transition for the young carrier, the airline said in an official statement on Wednesday, February 11.

“Praveen has been instrumental in shaping not just Akasa’s commercial vision but the airline itself…," said Vinay Dube, founder and CEO of Akasa Air. “We are grateful for his leadership, clarity of thought, and long-term perspective during the formative years of the airline."

Iyer’s exit represents the second prominent departure from Akasa Air’s founding team in less than three years. In 2025, Neelu Khatri, who oversaw international operations and corporate affairs, also moved on from the company.

The reshuffle comes asAkasa Aircontinues to scale its operations in an intensely competitive aviation market. With Srinivasan set to take charge of commercial strategy, the airline is expected to maintain continuity while adapting to new challenges.

Following Khatri’s departure, Akasa Air now counts Bhavin Joshi, Aditya Ghosh, Anand Srinivasan, and Belson Coutinho among its co-founders. The airline is financially supported by the family of late investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, whose backing played a key role in its launch.

Iyer brings more than 23 years of professional experience spanning aviation and consumer-facing industries. Over the years, he has developed expertise in global operations, revenue optimisation, network design, alliances, pricing strategies, cargo, and ancillary revenue streams.

A graduate of the University of Mumbai with an MBA degree, Iyer began his career at McDonald’s before transitioning to aviation with Jet Airways. There, he handled several leadership assignments. After Jet Airways ceased operations, he held senior roles at VFS Global and GoAir (later GO Airlines India Pvt Ltd). During his eight-month stint as Chief Commercial Officer at GoAir, he also started his own consulting venture.

In 2022, Iyer joined hands with Vinay Dube and other industry veterans to establish Akasa Air. The airline was founded to make air travel more affordable and accessible across metro cities as well as tier-2 and tier-3 markets, while also focusing on sustainability.

As Chief Commercial Officer, Iyer played a central role in developing the airline’s business blueprint, engaging with aircraft manufacturers, and pitching to investors. Under his leadership, Akasa Air gained recognition for operating one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in India.

She is working as a Chief Copy Editor at Times Now’s Business Desk, where she covers key developments in the stock market, Indian corporates across se...View More

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