Akasa Air Elevates Belson Coutinho As New Chief Operating Officer
Coutinho, who is also a co-founder, will lead crucial functions including inflight services, airport services and flight operations.
Akasa Air has announced the appointment of Belson Coutinho as its chief operating officer on Tuesday, elevating him from his previous role as chief marketing officer. Coutinho, who is also a co-founder, will lead crucial operational functions as the airline aims to rank among the world’s top 30 airlines by the end of the decade, the airline said in a statement.
"In his new role, Belson will be responsible for inflight services, airport services, maintenance and engineering, flight operations, IOCC, operational excellence, while also spearheading Akasa Air Learning Academy," it said.
Coutinho brings over two decades of experience in the aviation industry. He has been a part of executive committee since Akasa Air’s inception in 2022 and has been instrumental in shaping the brand’s vision and creating a strong foundation for the airline's unprecedented growth, according to the company.
"Belson's multifaceted role over the years had him successfully collaborate with cross-functional teams across airline operations, developing a good understanding of the functioning of operational departments," said Vinay Dube, founder and chief executive officer, Akasa Air.
"His passion for brand building, service excellence, training, technology, processes, employee centricity and sharp focus on cost leadership equips him to bring tremendous value to his new role as our COO. We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to enhance our operational efficiency, deliver on our values of service excellence, and make significant strides toward achieving our vision of becoming a world-class airline," he said.
Akasa Air, with a fleet of 26 aircraft, currently flies to 22 domestic and five international cities. Coutinho's appointment comes at a time when the country's youngest airline has been flying through regulatory turbulence due to multiple pilot training lapses.
In November, the airline carried 6.74 lakh domestic passengers, capturing a market share of 4.7%.
