New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a Rs 1 crore penalty on Air India for operating an Airbus A320 on eight flights without a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), labelling the lapse “serious” and pinning responsibility on top management.
The aircraft flew routes linking New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad on November 24-25 last year, breaching mandatory annual safety certification norms. Sources described the regulator’s stance as a red flag over the airline’s “casual approach.”
Air India acknowledged the DGCA order, noting the incident—self-reported in 2025—prompted fixes already shared with authorities. “We remain committed to the highest operational and safety standards,” a spokesperson stated.
The penalty compounds Air India’s woes after the June 2025 Ahmedabad Boeing 787 crash, which derailed revival efforts post-Tata privatisation. Operational hurdles like Pakistan’s airspace closure have inflated costs and delayed the March 31 breakeven target.
Tata Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has sounded out CEO candidates with major airline experience, as Campbell Wilson’s contract nears its 2027 end. Sources call it a friendly exit, driven by the financial shortfall.
(Inputs from IANS)