Akasa Air seeks action against pilots resigning without serving notice
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New Delhi: New airline Akasa Air has petitioned the Delhi High Court to direct the DGCA to take action against pilots who quit their jobs without giving the required notice period.
The airline, which launched its inaugural service between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on August 7, 2022, has had difficulties as a result of the resignation of several pilots. It informed the court that as a result of the resignations, many flights will need to be cancelled in September, PTI reported.
The airline told Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora the company was in a "state of crisis" because of these resignations and had to cancel multiple flights every day this month.
The court has asked the parties to file their written synopsis of the matter and listed it for further hearing on September 22.
The court also sought to know from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), represented by advocate Anjana Gosain, as to what action it takes in case flights have to be cancelled due to pilots' resignation.
The airline has also sought hefty compensation from the pilots for loss of revenue owing to the cancellation of flights.
SNV Aviation Private Limited, which flies under the brand name Akasa Air, has sought a direction from the DGCA to "take coercive action against pilots who fail to comply with the mandatory notice period requirements, in terms of the Civil Aviation Requirement"
"We have sought legal remedy only against a small set of pilots who abandoned their duties and left without serving their mandatory contractual notice period," an Akasa Air spokesperson had earlier said in a statement.
While first officers have to mandatorily serve a notice period of six months, the requirement for captains is one year.
The airline said the act was not only in violation of their contract but also the country's civil aviation regulations.
"Not only is this illegal in law but also an unethical and selfish act that disrupted flights in August forcing last minute cancellations that stranded thousands of customers causing significant inconvenience to the travelling public," it said.