A group of Akasa Air pilots has raised serious concerns about the airline’s operational practices, alleging issues with its hiring process, rostering, and safety standards. The pilots, in an email sent to Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, the Civil Aviation Secretary, and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday, have called for a thorough investigation into the airline’s practices.
Among the key allegations, the pilots claim that some operating crew members do not report to work on time, leading to disruptions in flight operations. They also pointed to concerns regarding the airline’s On-Time Performance (OTP) reporting, claiming inaccuracies in how punctuality is being documented.
The pilots further questioned the airline’s recruitment practices, suggesting that hiring decisions are being made arbitrarily by a select few within the company. They also raised alarms over what they describe as an unstable roster system, which could potentially affect flight scheduling and crew management.
This is not the first time that Akasa Air has faced scrutiny from its pilots. Earlier concerns were raised regarding alleged training and safety lapses within the airline, although Akasa Air dismissed these claims as baseless.
In recent months, Akasa Air, which has been operational for over two years, has been under the regulatory spotlight for several lapses. Earlier this month, the DGCA withdrew the Line Training Captain approval for one of the airline’s pilots due to issues surrounding the landing of a passenger aircraft in March 2024. The DGCA has stated that the pilot’s actions were deemed unsatisfactory, leading to the suspension of their approval until further notice.
In December, the DGCA also took disciplinary action against the airline’s Director of Operations and Director of Training, suspending them for six months over lapses in the training of pilots. Furthermore, Akasa Air was fined Rs 30 lakh by the DGCA in October 2024 for failing to ensure adequate training for its crew members.
At the time of writing, Akasa Air has not issued a public comment on the latest allegations from its pilots or the ongoing regulatory scrutiny.