Summary
- Akasa Air is facing a state of crisis with ongoing operational challenges, including mass pilot resignations and flight cancelations.
- The airline has accused Indian aviation authorities of causing significant financial and operational hardships but clarified that its legal filing is not against them.
- Despite the staffing challenges, Akasa Air has recently been recognized as an International Scheduled Operator, enabling it to pursue its goal of expanding internationally.
India’s aviation authorities have dismissed the possibility of intervening in a dispute between Akasa Air and its pilots, a legal filing seen by Reuters revealed. The news came after the airline approached the Delhi High Court seeking direction after 43 pilots resigned and left the airline without serving their mandatory notice period.
Mass pilot resignations
The operational challenges seem to be ongoing at India’s low-cost carrier Akasa Air. According to the company, it is currently in a state of crisis and has been forced to cancel up to 24 flights every day in September 2023. Meanwhile, in August 2023, the airline canceled more than 600 flights and warned of a potential shutdown if the exits continue.
Photo: Akasa Air.
While the departure of pilots has caused headaches for the management of the young airline, Akasa Air said they were prepared for “unforeseen circumstances and have contingency management strategies.” Currently, Akasa Air has a team of more than 450 pilots.
Despite its contingency strategies, the airline has recently accused the civil aviation regulator of inaction, stating that Indian aviation authorities caused “significant financial and operational hardships.” However, in a statement released on September 22, 2023, Akasa Air clarified:
“This is not a matter against the DGCA or the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) but a plea to the courts to urgently interpret and clarify the interim order issued by the very same court on the very same matter in 2018, relating to mandatory notice period requirements by the pilots.”
In India, pilots must to fulfill a compulsory notice period of six months (for first officers) and one year (for captains) before departing from an airline. As reported by Business Today, pilots leaving Akasa Air have taken positions with competing airlines. Akasa Air is actively pursuing enforcement of these mandatory notice period regulations through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Global expansion initiatives
While grappling with persistent staffing challenges, Akasa Air found cause for celebration after it recently earned recognition as an International Scheduled Operator by India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation. Commenting on the news, Akasa Air’s CEO Vinay Dube said:
“This new designation will allow us to fly internationally, enabling us to take one step closer to our dream of launching international operations before the end of this year. We are now working with all relevant authorities on our request for traffic rights and will soon be able to announce the international destination we will fly to.”
The airline has been seeking to expand internationally for quite a while now. With its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, Akasa Air could operate across various destinations in East Asia, Southeast Asia as well as the Middle East.
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Sources: Reuters