Neelu Khatri, one of Akasa Air’s founding pillars and the architect of its global ambitions, has stepped away from the cockpit of its leadership. The Senior Vice President for International Affairs resigned this week, marking the fledgling airline’s first major exit since its take-off in 2022.
The timing is notable as just a few weeks ago, Akasa secured ₹1,200 crore in fresh funding from investors led by Premji Invest, fuelling plans to stand toe-to-toe with aviation heavyweights like IndiGo and Air India. The company has already spread its wings internationally, while launching flights to Doha and preparing for more destinations.
Khatri joined Akasa Air even before its inaugural flight, helping chart the carrier’s course into overseas markets. Her departure comes just as the airline is at full throttle, aggressively expanding its network both domestically and internationally. Insiders suggest her move was a personal career decision, while the airline maintains that its growth trajectory remains unaffected. Her responsibilities have been passed on to senior executives as part of a broader leadership realignment.
While the skies remain friendly for now, foreign expansion in the competitive Indian airline landscape is no soft landing. As one of the few shareholders in the parent entity, SNV Aviation, Khatri’s quiet exit has industry watchers speculating about the reasons behind it.
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