Aviation Regulator Imposes Penalty on Akasa Air

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Akasa Air for violating passenger rights regulations. The violation came to light during a surveillance inspection conducted by DGCA at Bengaluru airport on 27 September.

The incident involved seven passengers who were denied boarding on Akasa Air flight QP 1437 from Bengaluru to Pune on 06 September. According to the DGCA order, the aircraft scheduled for the route was grounded due to foreign object damage, and the replacement aircraft had nine non-operational seats. As a result, seven passengers were transferred to an IndiGo flight (6E 116) departing nearly two hours later than their original flight.

Under the DGCA norms for compensation payable to passengers for denied boarding, an amount of Rs 10,000 should be given to passengers who are booked on alternative flight that departs over an hour after the original departure. If the passenger refuses to take the alternative flight or if the alternative flight departs 24 hours or more after the scheduled time of departure of the original flight, then a compensation of Rs 20,000 is payable by the airline.

The regulator noted that Akasa Air only initiated the process of collecting passengers' bank account details for compensation after receiving a show cause notice on November 1. The penalty must be deposited within thirty days of the demand notice. Akasa Air has the right to appeal the decision to the Joint Director General, DGCA, within thirty days by paying a fee of Rs 1,000.