The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation watchdog, has taken action against Air India, issuing a show cause notice for their failure to comply with passenger facility regulations.
Air India has stated that they are currently reviewing the notice. Notably, the regulator imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India last year for not adhering to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) regarding denied boarding of passengers.
Air India served show cause notice
To ensure that passenger-centric CARs are upheld, the DGCA has been conducting ongoing inspections of scheduled domestic airlines at major airports since May 2023. During these inspections, it was noted that Air India was not in compliance with the relevant CAR provisions.
“During the inspections of the airlines, it was observed that Air India was not complying with the provisions of the relevant CAR. Accordingly, a show cause notice has been issued to Air India seeking their response for non-compliance to the provisions of the CAR,” the DGCA said in a release.
Air India to submit response by Nov 17
An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the airline is currently reviewing the show cause notice and will provide a response within the stipulated timeframe. The notice, issued on November 3, allows the airline until November 17 to submit their response.
In case of necessity, the airline has the option to request an in-person hearing on the matter, according to a knowledgeable source.
The DGCA also emphasised the importance of continually strengthening passenger rights and ensuring that airlines operate in alignment with globally recognized best practices to create harmonized conditions for travelers.
Notably, India’s domestic air passenger traffic has been steadily increasing, underscoring its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets.