As India prepares for Ganesh Chaturthi, Akasa Air is offering passengers a taste of home at 35,000 feet. The country’s youngest airline has included a trio of modaks, the sweet, dumpling-like confection offered to Lord Ganesha, in the heart of Café Akasa’s festive menu. This meal, which also includes Gur Mewe Paratha, moong dal sabzi, and a hot cup of tea or coffee, will be available until the end of August across Akasa’s network.
For travellers, the modak is more than just a sugary treat filled with coconut; it symbolizes family kitchens, childhood memories, and community celebrations in Mumbai and Maharashtra, where the arrival of Lord Ganesha fills the streets with song, colour, and saffron banners. Kitchens across India prepare hundreds of these bite-sized sweets.
On Akasa, nostalgia is packaged in a foil tray, a strategy aimed at fostering cultural connection, hoping to give the airline a competitive edge in a crowded market.
This approach sets Akasa apart from India’s budget carriers, which are typically characterized by bare-bones service and a relentless focus on low fares. Since its launch in 2022, the airline has sought to infuse warmth into its identity. Café Akasa has introduced rainbow gujiyas for Holi, sheermal for Eid, Onam specials, and Diwali-themed dishes. Although each menu is temporary, together they signify a larger ambition: to be an airline that reflects India’s cultural calendar as much as its flight schedules.
The timing of the Ganpati menu is strategic. Ganesh Chaturthi has become one of Mumbai’s defining festivals, attracting crowds from across India and abroad. By incorporating a piece of this tradition into its flights, Akasa aims to tap into emotions that resonate widely with passengers, whether they are returning home to family or traveling abroad.
Those international flights are rapidly increasing. Starting September 20, Akasa will launch daily non-stop flights from Mumbai to Phuket, its first Southeast Asian route and sixth international destination overall. This choice is deliberate: over two million Indians visited Thailand last year, making it one of the country’s top tourist markets. Phuket is both a popular leisure destination and a gateway to a region with soaring demand for affordable, direct air travel.
“We are excited to expand into Southeast Asia with the addition of Phuket to our global network,” said Praveen Iyer, Co-founder and Chief Commercial officer. “With conveniently timed daily direct flights connecting Mumbai with Phuket, we are not only catering to the aspirations of modern Indian travelers but also strengthening the cultural and economic links between India and Thailand.”
Neelu Khatri, Co-founder and SVP International, added, “With this expansion, Akasa Air reinforces its commitment to making global travel accessible for every flyer. Thailand has long been a favorite among Indian travelers, and the demand for direct and affordable international connections continues to grow across the country.”
For Akasa, this global expansion is wrapped in something simple. Whether passengers are traveling within India or heading to a Thai beach, the airline wants them to carry a little piece of home along the journey. Offering a modak, at cruising altitude may seem like a small gesture, but in India’s competitive aviation market, it is intended to win hearts as well as market share.
