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Who is Vinay Dubey?
Vinay Dube is an aviation industry veteran and a former chief executive officer (CEO) of Jet Airways and GoAir (previously known as Go First). Currently, Dube is the CEO and co-founder of upcoming airline Akasa Air, which is backed by billionaire trader Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
Career
Dube began his career with American Airlines, the world’s largest airline by fleet size, as an operations research analyst and soon progressed to a managerial role. He then moved to travel technology firm Sabre Inc where he held various leadership roles.
Dube joined Jet Airways in June 2017 as its CEO after a decade-long career at Delta Air Lines, a major carrier in the United States and one of the world’s oldest airlines. He resigned from Jet Airways in May 2019, a month after the airline suspended operations due to severe financial distress.
He then joined Wadia Group-owned GoAir in February 2020 as its CEO but stepped down after just six months in the role, reportedly due to differences that emerged between Dube and the promoters over the business strategy of the cash-strapped airline.
Akasa Air
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dube convinced investors to start a new airline—Akasa Air. In July 2021, ace investor Jhunjhunwala put in $35 million for a 40% stake in the carrier. Akasa is set to be a low-cost airline with operations expected to launch in the summer of 2022. The airline has placed an order for a fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Akasa is aiming to induct around 70 of those planes in the next four years.
Dube has roped in several former colleagues from Jet Airways and GoAir. Praveen Iyer, the chief commercial officer of the airline and a founding member of the team, is a former colleague of Dube’s at Jet Airways.
The airline is based in Bengaluru but headquartered in Mumbai.
Dube has a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Knox College in Illinois, and a master’s degree in operations research from the University of North Carolina.
Personal life
Dube, an Indian American, is originally from Mumbai. He has a wife and three children.