The issues faced by Akasa Air

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 The issues faced by Akasa Air, as highlighted in the recent DGCA warnings and incidents, can be summarised as follows:

1. Regulatory Non-Compliance

  • Hard Landing Incident: A hard landing in March 2024 was discovered only during an inspection in October 2024, highlighting lapses in operational reporting and oversight.
  • Operations Manual Revision: Failure to update the operations manual within the prescribed timeframe, indicating procedural inefficiencies.

2. Dangerous Goods Handling

  • Mishandling of lithium batteries during cargo operations, including:
    • Acceptance of electronic devices with lithium batteries without verifying battery power.
    • Shipment of lithium batteries exceeding permissible weight limits on passenger aircraft.
  • Significant lapses in compliance with safety protocols during the carriage of dangerous goods.

3. Pilot Training and Oversight

  • Lapses in pilot training led to the airline's Head of Operations and Head of Training suspension for six months.
  • A pilot involved in the hard landing was relieved of training duties, indicating potential gaps in pilot performance monitoring and training.

4. Customer Service Issues

  • In October 2024, DGCA fined Akasa Air ₹10 lakh for failing to provide timely compensation to passengers who were denied boarding at Bangalore Airport in September 2024. This reflects shortcomings in customer service and passenger rights management.

5. Internal Audit and Monitoring Deficiencies

  • The need for a directive from DGCA to carry out internal audits at all cargo acceptance and handling facilities suggests a lack of robust internal monitoring and compliance mechanisms.

6. Repeated Regulatory Actions

  • Akasa Air has received two warning letters from DGCA within one week, highlighting repeated regulatory breaches and a pattern of non-compliance.

7. Reputational Risk

  • These issues collectively pose a reputational risk for the airline, especially given its position as a relatively new carrier in the Indian aviation market.

Root Causes

  • Inadequate internal oversight and quality control systems.
  • Lack of stringent compliance culture within the organization.
  • Gaps in staff training and operational procedures.

Addressing these problems requires Akasa Air to implement stronger compliance mechanisms, enhance staff training, and establish robust operational oversight to prevent future regulatory violations.

 

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