New travel feature integrates visa applications into flight booking experience
Akasa Air has expanded its service offering by introducing digital visa assistance for over 100 countries, in partnership with Udaan India. The initiative allows travelers to apply for visas directly through the airline’s website, offering a seamless, end-to-end booking experience.
This move marks a major step in enhancing Akasa’s customer value proposition, especially for international flyers. Moreover, it positions the airline as more than a budget carrier—as a digital-first travel enabler responding to evolving traveler needs.
The rise of India’s newest airline
Founded in 2021, Akasa Air entered India’s aviation market with a focus on low-cost, high-efficiency service. Despite industry headwinds, the airline rapidly expanded across key domestic routes, becoming one of the country’s fastest-growing carriers.
As of mid-2025, Akasa serves more than 25 domestic destinations and has begun international operations to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is known for fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, aligning with Akasa’s sustainability goals.
Now, by adding visa processing to its offerings, Akasa is building a platform that integrates booking, compliance, and travel planning—similar to full-service carriers, but within a budget model.
Akasa Air visa services
Adding Akasa Air visa services is more than a convenience—it’s a strategic differentiator. With visa delays often a barrier to international travel, the partnership with Udaan India helps reduce friction and increases booking confidence.
Through the integration, passengers can apply for tourist and business visas to destinations including the UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, UK, and Schengen countries. The platform also provides document checklists, real-time status updates, and doorstep document pickup in select cities.
Moreover, this service is not limited to Akasa ticket holders. Even passengers flying other airlines can access visa processing through the Akasa portal—expanding its customer base beyond flight sales.
As a result, Akasa is repositioning itself as a tech-enabled travel brand, rather than just another budget airline.
Airline competition shifts to value-added services
India’s aviation market is intensely competitive, especially in the low-cost segment. To stand out, airlines are shifting focus from just on-time performance and pricing to value-added digital features.
For example, IndiGo recently introduced hotel and taxi bookings via its platform, while Air India is investing in in-flight Wi-Fi and app-based upgrades. In this context, Akasa’s visa integration is both timely and relevant.
The move also appeals to first-time international travelers, a rapidly growing demographic in India. By removing uncertainty around visas, Akasa makes overseas travel more accessible and less intimidating.
Moreover, the airline now has a reason to retain users on its platform longer, gathering travel intent data that can drive future upselling.
Strategic potential beyond 2025
Looking ahead, Akasa Air visa services could become a key component of its long-term tech-led roadmap. With plans to expand into Europe, Central Asia, and East Africa, integrating visa tools will help the airline offer a unified cross-border experience.
Udaan India, known for digital logistics and travel facilitation, brings the backend scale and automation needed to process large volumes. As visa APIs improve globally, more real-time decisions and e-visas could be supported through the Akasa platform.
Furthermore, these services could evolve to include travel insurance, COVID documents, or even biometric processing, turning the airline’s digital arm into a travel ecosystem.
If successful, this model may be replicated by other Asian carriers as digital convenience becomes a core passenger expectation.
A digital-first approach to global mobility
The launch of Akasa Air visa services shows how India’s new-generation airlines are thinking beyond planes and seats. By solving real traveler pain points through digital innovation, Akasa is elevating the budget airline model.
As global travel rebounds and Indian flyers explore more destinations, integrated services like these will define brand loyalty. More importantly, they reflect how airlines in Asia are evolving into travel-tech companies, driving the next phase of mobility.
Akasa’s move is not just about flying—it’s about owning the journey.
