AKASA PILOT CASE
Aviation firms plan own training schools to ensure supply of talent
While Air India is starting its own pilot training school, the GMR group that owns the country's largest airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company, GMR Aero Technic, has invested ?50 crore to start its own school for engineers. "To train such large numbers of engineers, GMR Aero Technic has entered the skill development segment with the GMR School of Aviation," Ashok Gopinath, president and accountable manager of GMR Aero Technic, said. The group also owns the Delhi, Hyderabad and Goa airports.
Indian Airlines ride AI: Human-like responses for passengers, lesser workload for agents
Artificial intelligence is transforming the Indian aviation industry, enhancing customer service and operational efficiency for airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air. From AI virtual agents handling diverse queries to AI chatbots with trillions of parameters, these technologies are streamlining processes and improving passenger experiences. The adoption of new-age technologies like AI and machine learning is on the rise across the industry, promising advancements in areas such as computer vision and data-backed decision-making.
Air India dealt blow as aircraft technicians plan strike
Technicians at AI Engineering Services Ltd. — a state-run maintenance, repair and overhaul firm and an erstwhile Air India unit — will strike on April 23 due to various issues affecting their “well-being” and “professional growth,” All India Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Union wrote in a letter dated April 8 to the chief executive officer.
Vistara: Why flyers face turbulence when aviation sector is growing
While India's aviation sector is growing, more and more people are flying, airlines are adding more aircraft and airports are being built even in far corners, flyers are complaining about delays, cancellations, low quality of service and fares jumping to new highs.
Akasa Air to cancel 4 Mumbai-Bengaluru flights daily from Feb 15-Mar 30
Akasa Air on Tuesday said it will be cancelling four flights daily between the city and Bengaluru following government guidelines issued to reduce congestion at the Mumbai airport. The civil aviation ministry has asked Mumbai airport operator MIAL to cut the number of scheduled flights and also restrict private jet operations for longer hours, according to reports.
Airlines to ramp up tech, training to handle customers during flight disruption
Airlines are also calling for changes in security rules which mandate a passenger to undergo airport security checks again if they are disembarked in case of a delay. Thick fog and a non-operational runway in India’s busiest airport at Delhi severely disrupted flight schedules this winter as airline crews struggled to deal with passengers upset with delayed or cancelled flights.
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Mumbai airport food on tarmac row: Incident unacceptable and shameful, says Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed strong disapproval of incidents such as passengers having food on the tarmac at Mumbai airport, deeming them unacceptable. He emphasized the government's commitment to the safety and security of citizens. Following the incident, a prompt meeting was convened, and showcause notices were issued within hours.
Consumer not the king: Why airlines have so many disgruntled passengers
A passenger assault on an IndiGo pilot during a flight delay caused by fog has added to incidents of the already frustrated Indian flyers. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Indian aviation industry, including delays, cancellations, poor service, and harassment. The sector is dominated by a near-duopoly, with IndiGo and Tata-owned airlines controlling a significant market share. However, struggling smaller airlines may find respite as market conditions change. Despite these issues, the industry plans to add more aircraft in 2024, though a fare war is not expected due to the grounded planes.
The scrap heap of billionaires’ failed airlines is poised for another entry from India
Jindal Power Ltd. — Go’s sole potential buyer under its insolvency resolution process — has decided not to bid. Local media reported that Jindal couldn’t assess Go’s value because it is unclear how many planes it will have, after the aviation regulator signaled its aircraft should be returned to lessors.
Good news for aviation: In a strong duopoly, hope soars for struggling SpiceJet
A big chunk of India's aviation market is owned by just two airlines. Historically, due to various factors, the Indian aviation market has proved to be a graveyard of airlines. Very few have remained afloat beyond five years. The latest to nosedive was Go First which was grounded in May.
No nation in the world is buying more planes than India. But why?
India is experiencing a significant aviation boom, with its largest airlines ordering nearly 1,000 jets this year, committing tens of billions of dollars to a spending spree unparalleled in aviation. Indira Gandhi International Airport is expanding to become the world's second busiest, while India doubles its number of airports from 74 to over 230 by 2030.
ET Exclusive: Akasa pilot count to double by FY25; haven't cut salaries or perks, says CEO Vinay Dube
The airline last week moved the Delhi High Court seeking a direction from India’s aviation regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to act against pilots that quit without serving the requisite notice period of six months. The airline has also filed a civil case in the Bombay High Court seeking collective damages of Rs 21 crore from the five pilots. That has led to rampant outburst from the community on social media, warning their peers not to join Akasa.
How a soaring Akasa Air got into a wrangle with its pilots
Akasa Air, the airline launched by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, overtook SpiceJet in terms of domestic market share in June 2023. However, the airline faced trouble when 43 pilots quit without serving the mandatory notice period, leading to flight cancellations and loss of market share. Akasa Air sued the pilots and the aviation regulator, seeking action against the pilots. The courts ruled in favor of Akasa Air, allowing the airline to take legal action against the pilots.
In a relief to Akasa Air, Delhi HC says DGCA can act against pilots non-compliant with regulations
The Delhi High Court has ruled that DGCA has the authority to take action against pilots who are non-compliant with civil aviation requirements. This decision comes as a relief to Akasa Air, a budget airline that sought action against pilots who left without serving their contractual notice period. The Bombay HC also allowed Akasa Air to proceed with its suit seeking damages from pilots who allegedly exited the company without notice.
Bombay HC allows Akasa Air to proceed in Mumbai against pilots
The Bombay High Court has ruled that Akasa Air can proceed with its suit seeking contractual damages from pilots who exited the company without serving a notice period. The court has said that the company can approach the court in Mumbai. Akasa Air had originally sought compensation of Rs 21 crore from six pilots for leaving without notice.
Bond and notice period for pilots justified only when airline has invested in training them: Air India CEO Wilson
“I think if an airline is investing in training people, then it's quite common practice that there is some sort of bond with the organization and if someone leaves before the agreed period, there is a compensatory mechanism for the airline that has invested. This is quite different when the pilot has been already trained by someone else and you pick up because you have a desperate need because you have not prepared or invested in increasing capability,” Wilson said when asked if there should be a notice period for pilots.
Affordable airfare to remain one of IndiGo's fundamental pillars: Pieter Elbers, CEO
"I think for Indigo, one of our very fundamental customer promises is affordable fares, and that is what we keep there. So yes, there will be seasonal fluctuations, like there always are. We also see prices of fuel going up. But at the end of the day, the Indigo customer promise — affordable fares — will remain a very strong pillar of the airline."
Can't interfere in employment agreement between pilots, Akasa Air: DGCA to HC
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has informed the Delhi High Court that it cannot intervene in the employment agreement between pilots and Akasa Air. The DGCA stated that it would be in the interest of all parties if Akasa Air complied with the aviation regulator's mandate to maintain a limited schedule if it lacked enough pilots.
Akasa Air’s own data does not show large cancellation due to pilot resignation: DGCA
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has stated that it will not intervene in the issue of pilot resignations at Akasa Air. The airline had claimed that 43 pilots had quit without completing the required notice period, leading to the cancellation of over 632 flights in August and September.
Struggling carrier Akasa blames regulator "inaction" as pilots quit
Over 40 of more than 450 pilots have recently quit Akasa without serving their notice, leading to cancellations of around 18% of the 3,500 flights it usually runs a month in August.
Akasa Air drags DGCA to court to penalise 43 pilots who quit without notice period
Low-cost airline Akasa Air has taken legal action against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India, asking for coercive action to be taken against 43 pilots who quit without giving a six-month notice period. Akasa Air claims that these sudden resignations have resulted in flight cancellations and chaos for the public. The airline is seeking monetary compensation and has also requested that the pilots be barred from joining any other airline until they complete their notice period.
Akasa Air eyes $75-100 mn via fresh equity, move to dilute Jhunjhunwala family’s 46% stake
Akasa Air wants to use the fund to make pre-delivery payments for its order of 72 Boeing 737 Max jets, for which 19 have already been delivered. The airline has reached a $650m valuation and may include existing investor, US-based hedge fund PAR Capital Management. The stake of the Jhunjhunwala family, which holds a 46% share in the airline through a trust, could be diluted due to the fundraising.
Competitive skies: Challenges loom for country's largest carrier IndiGo
Just as it managed to put behind a public feud among its promoters, IndiGo is now grappling with employees leaving for better offers, slippages on its On-Time Performance (OTP) and a handful of technical snags denting its image, according to analysts.
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