Akasa Air Takes DGCA to Court Over Pilots Quitting Without Notice Period

Low-cost airline Akasa Air has taken DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) to court, requesting coercive action against 43 pilots who resigned without serving the mandatory notice period of six months. The airline has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, making the Ministry of Civil Aviation a party to the case. Akasa Air argues that these sudden resignations have resulted in flight cancellations, causing chaos for the public.

The court has scheduled the case to be heard by the same judge who is handling a similar case.

In 2017, the DGCA implemented a rule that requires commanders to serve a notice period of one year and first officers a notice period of six months. This rule was challenged by the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, a lobby group of Air India pilots, in 2017.

Akasa Air’s action comes after both the DGCA and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia declined to intervene in the matter, citing that it is sub-judice. The airline’s legal head, Priya Mehra, expressed concern that if no penal action is taken against the pilots, it could set a wrong example and encourage others to engage in similar behavior.

Akasa Air had previously taken the pilots to court, seeking to prevent them from joining any other airline until they fulfill their notice period as stated in their employment agreement. The airline also seeks monetary compensation of Rs 21 crore, which includes the cost of training.

Akasa Air reported having to cancel 632 flights in August due to the pilots’ resignations and expects to cancel a similar number in the future, leading to financial and reputational losses. The pilots who left the airline claimed that it violated their contracts by altering the salary structure, reducing payment for hours flown beyond the monthly quota. Since June, a total of 43 pilots from Akasa Air, which operates the Boeing 737 Max, have resigned, with many leaving within a week.

Many of these pilots have joined Air India Express, a subsidiary of Tata-owned Air India, as both airlines operate similar types of aircraft, making it easier to hire pilots from one another due to similar training and procedures.

Akasa Air and Air India Express have plans for rapid expansion, with both airlines set to add around 70 new aircraft by the end of 2024.