Deputy General Manager - Ancillary Product

Akasa Air; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 9,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Akasa Air seeks a strategic leader to drive ancillary, merchandising and holidays revenue across the airline. You will set product strategy, collaborate with Marketing, Revenue Management, Digital/E-commerce, and Finance to launch and scale seats, bags, meals, and partner products.

The role requires 5–10 years in airlines or travel with hands-on experience in ancillaries, P&L ownership and a track record of launching revenue-driving products across multiple channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, Aviation, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, or a related discipline from a recognized institution.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Operations, or a related field is preferred.
• Professional certifications in Product Management, Category Management, Digital Commerce, Project Management, Data Analytics, or airline commercial systems will be an advantage.
• Strong commercial and analytical orientation, with the ability to translate customer insights, market trends, and data into scalable ancillary products and revenue initiatives.
• 5-10 years of overall experience in airlines, travel, hospitality, e-commerce, retail, or another consumer-facing industry, with substantial exposure to revenue-generating products and digital sales channels.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in airline ancillaries, merchandising, product management, category management, or a closely related commercial function; direct airline experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience owning a product or category P&L, revenue plan, business case, budget, pricing strategy, and performance KPIs.
• Proven track record of developing, launching, and scaling ancillary or travel products across direct and indirect channels, including web, mobile, airport, contact centre, and distribution partners.
• Experience managing the end-to-end product lifecycle, from customer insight and concept design through commercial evaluation, technology integration, launch, adoption, performance tracking, and continuous improvement.
• Experience in commercial negotiations and ongoing relationship management with third-party partners such as insurance, hotels, car rental, lounges, payments, travel services, and advertising partners.
• Strong cross-functional leadership experience, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver through Revenue Management, Marketing, Digital/E-commerce, Technology, Airport Operations, Call Centre, Finance, Legal, and Customer Experience teams.
• Prior experience leading and developing a team, setting goals, allocating work, reviewing performance, and building functional capability.
• Exposure to a start-up, high-growth, or transformation environment, including the ability to establish processes, governance, dashboards, and operating rhythms, will be an advantage.

Skills

Analytical skills

Product management

Project management

Reservation system

Check-in system

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Job description

• Responsible for delivering industry leading ancillary/merchandising capability of airline products (flight products, airline ancillary products and travel partner ancillary products)
• Responsible for the strategic direction, revenue, KPI's and business operation of Akasa Air ancillary, merchandising and holidays
• Set-up Ancillary revenue products for Airline's launch which includes but not limited to Seats, Bags, Meals, Convenience Fee, Partner Products and progressively adding products viz. fare lock, travel certificate, priority check-in, priority boarding, upsell, etc.
• Evaluate, design and implement partner products which includes but not limited to Insurance, Hotels, Car Rental, Lounge, Experiences, etc.
• Collaborates with business leadership to develop Ancillary strategies, products and processes including new initiatives supporting business goals
• Work closely with Revenue Management on pricing and selling strategy including tacticals and promotions
• Market and sell ad space on airline's collaterals i.e. meal trays, overhead bins, head rest covers, boarding pass, menu card, inflight sampling, announcement, etc.
• Responsible to market ancillary products and services in collaboration with the marketing and communication team
• Implement incentive programs to drive incremental revenue in consultation with revenue management
• Formulate revenue and cost budget for Ancillary Sales
• Develop partnerships and future ancillary/merchandising strategy to create value to consumers as well as drive incremental revenue to the airline
• Source and maintain a range of external travel partners to support ancillary revenue growth
• Manage key stakeholders to deliver business outcomes including Marketing, E-Commerce, Revenue Management, Travel Product, Technology, Call Centre, Legal and Finance
• Responsible for budgeting and effective tracking of ancillary sale including managing cost of sale

Qualification & Experience -

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, Aviation, Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, or a related discipline from a recognized institution.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Strategy, Finance, Operations, or a related field is preferred.
• Professional certifications in Product Management, Category Management, Digital Commerce, Project Management, Data Analytics, or airline commercial systems will be an advantage.
• Strong commercial and analytical orientation, with the ability to translate customer insights, market trends, and data into scalable ancillary products and revenue initiatives.
• 5-10 years of overall experience in airlines, travel, hospitality, e-commerce, retail, or another consumer-facing industry, with substantial exposure to revenue-generating products and digital sales channels.
• At least 5 years of hands-on experience in airline ancillaries, merchandising, product management, category management, or a closely related commercial function; direct airline experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience owning a product or category P&L, revenue plan, business case, budget, pricing strategy, and performance KPIs.
• Proven track record of developing, launching, and scaling ancillary or travel products across direct and indirect channels, including web, mobile, airport, contact centre, and distribution partners.
• Experience managing the end-to-end product lifecycle, from customer insight and concept design through commercial evaluation, technology integration, launch, adoption, performance tracking, and continuous improvement.
• Experience in commercial negotiations and ongoing relationship management with third-party partners such as insurance, hotels, car rental, lounges, payments, travel services, and advertising partners.
• Strong cross-functional leadership experience, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and deliver through Revenue Management, Marketing, Digital/E-commerce, Technology, Airport Operations, Call Centre, Finance, Legal, and Customer Experience teams.
• Prior experience leading and developing a team, setting goals, allocating work, reviewing performance, and building functional capability.
• Exposure to a start-up, high-growth, or transformation environment, including the ability to establish processes, governance, dashboards, and operating rhythms, will be an advantage.

Skills & Knowledge -

• Analytical skills
• Product Management
• Project management
• Technical knowledge of reservation and check-in system wrt implementation of ancillary products and services