National, September 9, 2026: Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, successfully operated a commercial flight using conventional aviation turbine fuel blended with 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), supplied by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on September 8, 2026. The flight departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 13:05hrs IST and arrived at Manohar International Airport (GOX), Goa, at 14:30hrs IST.
The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Akasa Air and BPCL in July 2026 to explore adoption of SAF, along with other opportunities supporting aviation decarbonisation. The flight will provide both organisations with insights and practical learnings that can help inform future initiatives.
Commenting on the milestone, Ankur Goel, Chief Financial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “Sustainability is one of Akasa Air’s core values and shapes how we are building the airline for the long term. Since inception, we have invested in next-generation aircraft, technology and responsible practices that enable more conscious and efficient operations, both on the ground and in the air. This flight with BPCL translates our partnership into tangible action. Scaling SAF in India will require coordinated action across the ecosystem, supported by domestic supply, enabling policy and commercial viability. We are committed to exploring this transition.”
Mr. Subhankar Sen, Director (Marketing), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), said, “The transition from conventional fuels to sustainable alternatives is both an environmental imperative and a strategic necessity for India. While feedstock availability and aggregation have historically posed challenges due to fragmented supply chains, sustained efforts across the value chain have helped create the foundation for a viable Sustainable Aviation Fuel ecosystem. BPCL remains firmly committed to advancing sustainable fuels as part of India’s broader energy transition journey. As a nation that relies significantly on crude oil imports, enhancing energy security through sustainable and indigenous energy solutions is the way forward. BPCL is actively driving sustainability initiatives across multiple sectors, and today’s milestone with Akasa Air marks an important step in extending these efforts to aviation and supporting India’s decarbonisation goals. He also thanked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and DGCA for their unwavering support and guidance in making this achievement possible.”
The flight comes as India works towards its ambition of achieving 5% SAF blending by 2030 and reflects the aviation industry’s broader focus on reducing carbon emissions. It also contributes to the International Air Transport Association’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Sustainability has been embedded in Akasa Air’s ethos since inception, with the airline continuing to implement initiatives focused on conscious and efficient operations.
Akasa Air’s brand-new Boeing 737 MAX fleet is a key enabler of its mission to operate one of the most environmentally progressive and fuel-efficient fleets 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. The airline has also partnered with OpenAirlines to implement SkyBreathe®, a cutting-edge fuel management solution that uses advanced analytics to reduce carbon emissions and enhance operational efficiency across the network. Akasa Air was the first Indian airline to voluntarily opt out of traditional water-cannon salutes at route inaugurations, conserving over 5,50,000 litres of water to date.
About Akasa Air:
Akasa Air is India’s most dependable airline, offering warm and efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable fares – all in the Akasa Way. Akasa’s youthful personality, employee-centric philosophy, tech-led approach, and culture of service make this commitment a reality for all Indians.
Akasa Air’s consistent on-time leadership, operational efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback have made it a preferred carrier in India, serving over 30 million passengers since its launch in August 2022. Akasa Air currently connects with 29 domestic and seven international cities, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Sri Vijaya Puram, Ayodhya, Gwalior, Srinagar, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga, Kozhikode, Navi Mumbai, Dibrugarh, Noida, Udaipur, Jaipur, Doha (Qatar), Jeddah, Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Phuket (Thailand), and Hanoi (Vietnam).
With a clear focus on sustained, long-term growth, Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 226 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM fuel-efficient LEAP-1B engines. It currently operates 43 737 MAX aircraft, which deliver superior efficiency in reducing fuel use and carbon emissions. The aircraft also has a quieter cabin with 40 per cent less noise, fulfilling the airline’s promise of being an environmentally progressive company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies.
About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):
Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.
Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, fuel stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 25,300+ Fuel Stations, over 1000+ CNG stations, over 6,250+ LPG distributorships, 440+ Lubes distributorships, 81 POL storage locations, 56 LPG Bottling Plants, 83 Aviation Service Stations, 5 Lube blending plants and 6 cross-country pipelines.
Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has Electric vehicle charging stations at 6800+ Fuel Stations. With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing an ecosystem and a road map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting several initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be an admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.
