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Iyer’s departure is the second high-profile exit at Akasa Air in under three years.
Praveen Iyer is the co-founder of Akasa Air, a low-cost airline launched in 2022. (Photo Credit: X)
Praveen Iyer, co-founder of Akasa Air, has stepped down as Chief Commercial Officer of the airline. Chief Information Officer Anand Srinivasan will take over the role May 1 onwards.
“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 departure is the second high-profile exit at Akasa Air in under three years. Last year, co-founder Neelu Khatri, who led international operations and corporate affairs, also left the airline.
Who Is Praveen Iyer?
Praveen Iyer has over 23 years of experience across aviation and consumer-focused businesses. His expertise lies in global operations, revenue management, network planning, alliances and partnerships, pricing, cargo sales, and ancillary revenues.
He completed his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mumbai, followed by an MBA. After his studies, Iyer began his career with McDonald’s.
His interest in aviation led him to join Jet Airways, where he held multiple leadership positions. After Jet Airways shut down, Praveen Iyer took on leadership roles at VFS Global and GoAir (later GO Airlines India Pvt Ltd).
At GoAir, he served as Chief Commercial Officer for about eight months. During this period, he also launched his consulting firm.
Founding Akasa Air
In 2022, Iyer co-founded Akasa Air alongside CEO Vinay Dube and a team of industry veterans, with a vision to democratise air travel in India. The airline aimed to make flying affordable, sustainable, and accessible for passengers from metro, tier-2, and tier-3 cities.
As CCO, Iyer was in charge of drafting the business plan, engaging with OEMs, and preparing investor presentations. Under his leadership, Akasa Air also became known for its youngest and greenest fleet in Indian skies.
Following the 2025 exit of Neelu Khatri, who headed international operations and corporate affairs, the airline now has four co-founders: Bhavin Joshi, Aditya Ghosh, Anand Srinivasan and Belson Coutinho.
The airline is backed by the family of the late billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
Personal Life
Praveen is an avid reader of non-fiction, enjoys watching movies, and has a taste for Italian cuisine. His favourite book is Good to Great by James C Collins. He loves travelling, with London being a preferred destination.
His net worth is reportedly over Rs 500 crore. News18 couldn’t verify this information.
Akasa Air Overview
Akasa Air currently operates 33 Boeing 737 Max aircraft across 32 destinations. The airline plans to expand its fleet to 45 aircraft by the end of the year and has resumed pilot recruitment to support its growth.
This rapid expansion has come at a cost. In FY 2025, Akasa Air reported a loss of Rs 1,983 crore, primarily due to rising employee costs and maintenance expenses.
Delhi, India, India
February 11, 2026, 15:08 IST
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