DGCA Slaps Rs 10 Lakh Fine on Akasa Air Over Denied Boarding

In a setback for Akasa Air, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on the airline for failing to compensate seven passengers who were denied boarding on a Bengaluru-Pune flight. The incident, which occurred on September 6, has sparked scrutiny of the airline’s operations.

The flight in question, QP 1437, was scheduled to depart from Kempegowda International Airport at 8:50 p.m. but was grounded due to damage caused by a foreign object.

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While the airline arranged a replacement plane, it had nine inoperable seats, meaning seven passengers were unable to board. Though an alternative flight was provided, Akasa Air did not offer compensation, which the DGCA found to be a violation of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M, Part IV.

Akasa Air acknowledged the fine in a statement, saying, “We acknowledge receipt of an order by the DGCA dated December 24, 2024. We continue to work closely with the DGCA to address this matter and enhance our protocols as required by the regulator.”

This fine comes amid growing scrutiny of Akasa Air’s operations. Just a week before, the airline was notified of several errors related to aircraft maintenance and certification.

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In one case, the DGCA issued a show-cause notice after an inspection at Bangalore International Airport revealed that a tire pressure sensor on one of its aircraft was improperly reinstalled, violating civil aviation maintenance standards.

Akasa has also been criticized for not promptly updating its operations manual, further adding to the pressure from the aviation regulator. In response, the airline emphasized that it was actively working to improve its processes and protocols.

Under the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s guidelines, if an airline arranges an alternative flight within 24 hours of the original flight’s departure, passengers are entitled to a compensation of up to Rs 10,000. If the alternative flight is delayed beyond 24 hours, compensation increases to Rs 20,000.