Akasa Airlines has decided to pursue legal action against 43 pilots who left the airline without serving their notice period, alleging contract violations and damage to the airline’s reputation. The 13-month-old airline is seeking compensation of approximately ₹22 crore for the revenue loss incurred due to the pilots’ departure.
According to a report in the Times of India, the mass exodus of pilots has led to the cancellation of several of the airline’s operations since August 2023.
An Akasa Airlines spokesperson stated, “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.”
The airline contends that the pilots’ actions not only violated their contracts but also contravened India’s civil aviation regulations. It views these actions as both illegal and unethical, causing disruptions to flights in August and leading to last-minute cancellations that inconvenienced thousands of passengers.
Akasa Airlines, which currently operates a fleet of 20 planes, commenced operations in August 2022. In June of the current year, the Mumbai-based airline announced a salary increase of up to 40% for its pilots. As per the announcement, senior first officers were set to begin receiving a monthly salary of ₹3.40 lakh starting from July 2023, with senior captains earning ₹6.25 lakh, compared to their previous salaries of ₹2.75 lakh and ₹5.75 lakh, respectively.
Furthermore, the pay scale could be even higher for pilots with more experience and flight hours, with captains potentially earning up to ₹7.75 lakh per month, reflecting a 6% increase from their previous monthly salary of ₹7.28 lakh. Additionally, captains and first officers would receive ₹7,500 and ₹3,045, respectively, for every additional hour of flying beyond the fixed 40 hours.
In August, Akasa Airlines expanded its fleet to include its 20th aircraft, making it eligible to commence international operations. Indian regulations stipulate that airlines must have a minimum of 20 aircraft in their fleet to qualify for international operations.
As of August 2023, Akasa Airlines operated more than 900 weekly flights across 16 cities in India, positioning itself as a growing player in the country’s aviation sector.
