Crisis-Hit Akasa Air Seeks Action Against Its Pilots; Know Why

New Delhi: The fledgling Akasa Air has run into rough weather just a year after taking wings.

The airline, which operated its first commercial flight on August 7, 2022, has approached Delhi High Court seeking direction to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to take action against its pilots who resigned without serving mandatory notice period.

Akasa Air told the court it will have to cancel a large number of flights this month due to the resignations, reported PTI.

It was because of these resignations that the company was in a “state of crisis” and is having to cancel multiple flights every day, the airline told Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora.

SNV Aviation Private Limited, which flies under Akasa Air brand name, has sought a direction to the DGCA to take “coercive action” against pilots who fail to comply with mandatory notice period requirements.

While first officers have to serve a notice period of six months, the requirement for captains is one year.

“Not only is this (resignations) illegal in law but also an unethical and selfish act that disrupted flights in August forcing last minute cancellations that stranded thousands of customers causing significant inconvenience to the travelling public,” Akasa Air stated.

The airline has sought hefty compensation from the pilots for loss of revenue owing to cancellation of flights.

The court has asked the parties to file their written synopsis in the matter and listed it for further hearing on September 22.

The court also sought to know from DGCA as to what action it takes in case flights have to be cancelled due to pilots’ resignation.