India’s newest airline Akasa Air has added a 20th aircraft to its fleet, making it eligible to fly internationally. The carrier, which will complete one year of operations on August 7, has also become the first airline in Asia to have the Boeing 737-8-200.

Indian regulations require airlines to have at least 20 aircraft in their fleet to become eligible for international operations.

“Going from zero to 20 aircraft within 12 months is not just an Akasa record but a record that encapsulates the potential of the country,” said Vinay Dube, founder and CEO of Akasa Air. The airline has recorded the highest on-time performance for several consecutive months in 2023, he added.

The international routes that Akasa would be looking to explore include the Middle East, tips of Eastern Africa, Southeast Asia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Dube said in an earlier interview with Skift.

The airline plans to fly international later this year with a fleet of 72 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, with intentions to expand to 100 aircraft by 2025. Last month, the carrier ordered four more planes from Boeing, which are to be delivered in the next four years. It is also looking to hire some 500 employees to its workforce ahead of the international expansion.

Currently, Akasa operates more than 900 weekly flights across 16 Indian cities.