Akasa Air Co-Founder Praveen Iyer Resigns as CCO; Anand Srinivasan to Take Charge

Akasa Air’s Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Praveen Iyer has resigned from the airline, marking another high-profile leadership exit at India’s youngest airline. His departure comes just four months after fellow co-founder Neelu Khatri stepped down, signalling a notable transition phase for the fast-growing carrier.

Praveen Iyer to Exit After Five-Year Journey

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Akasa Air said Iyer has “decided to move on to begin the next chapter of his life” after a five-year journey with the airline.

The company added that he will continue to work closely with the leadership team to ensure a “smooth and structured transition” through April 30, 2026.

Iyer has been a core member of Akasa’s founding leadership team and played a critical role in shaping the airline’s commercial strategy, partnerships, and revenue framework since its inception.

CEO Vinay Dube on Praveen Iyer’s Contribution

Commenting on the transition, Vinay Dube, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Akasa Air, said:

“Praveen has been instrumental in shaping not just Akasa’s commercial vision but the airline itself and translating that ambition into sustained growth. He has built a strong and resilient commercial organisation, nurtured future leaders, and established partnerships and frameworks that continue to support our network expansion and revenue strategy.”

Praveen Iyer Reflects on His Tenure

Reflecting on his time at Akasa Air, Iyer said:

“Building Akasa Air has been a defining journey and a deeply fulfilling experience. It has been a privilege to be part of an exceptional team, and I am proud of the achievements we have made in such a short span of time. I am confident the airline is well positioned for its next phase of growth and wish the leadership and employees continued success.”

Leadership Transition at Akasa Air

Anand Srinivasan Appointed New Chief Commercial Officer

Akasa Air announced that Co-Founder and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Anand Srinivasan will assume the role of Chief Commercial Officer.

As part of the organisational restructuring:

• The IT function will now report to Chief Financial Officer Ankur Goel

• Akasa Air has initiated a search for a new Chief Information Officer

CEO Vinay Dube on Anand Srinivasan’s Appointment

Dube highlighted the airline’s leadership depth, saying Akasa was fortunate to have “deep leadership talent and domain expertise”, and added:

“Anand has deep expertise in commercial and revenue algorithms, including building the revenue management platform that we use today. His ability to combine commercial strategy with a technology-first mindset is extremely exciting as we enter our next phase of growth and complexity.”

Anand Srinivasan on His New Role

Srinivasan, who brings over 25 years of experience across aviation technology and commercial functions in India and international markets, said:

“Akasa has been built with a clear purpose, strong fundamentals, and an exceptional team. I look forward to delivering sustained growth, stronger customer value, and long-term competitiveness as we scale.”

Under his leadership, Akasa’s technology team has built platforms spanning:

• Revenue systems

• Operational technology

• Digital products

• Data and analytics

IT Function to Report to CFO Ankur Goel

As part of the transition, the airline confirmed that the IT function will report to CFO Ankur Goel, citing his proven track record of building high-performing teams.

Recent Senior-Level Departures at Akasa Air

Praveen Iyer’s exit follows several other leadership changes in recent months. Earlier, Neelu Khatri, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President – International Operations, resigned to pursue a new professional direction. She played a key role in establishing Akasa’s international operations.

Other senior executives who have exited include:

• Rishabh Dev, Head of Long-Term Operations, Strategy, Excellence and Planning

• Amol Mane, Vice-President of Aircraft Acquisition and Leasing

• Vineet Mishra, Deputy General Manager – Catering

What This Means for Akasa Air

The latest leadership changes mark a significant shift in Akasa Air’s founding team as the airline moves into its next phase of expansion. With new leadership responsibilities consolidated and a stronger focus on technology-driven commercial strategy, Akasa appears to be positioning itself for scale, complexity, and long-term competitiveness in India’s rapidly evolving aviation market.