“The airline’s market share dips as abrupt resignations and cancellations hit hard”
Akasa Air, the airline backed by billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, is currently navigating through a series of challenges that have disrupted its operations. From pilot resignations to flight cancellations, the airline is grappling with issues that have impacted its market share. As of August, the airline’s market share had slipped to 4.2 percent, down from 5.2 percent in July, according to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Pilots’ Resignations
One of the major setbacks for Akasa Air has been the abrupt resignations of pilots. On September 16, the airline announced that it had taken legal action against a “small set of pilots” who had left the company without serving their notice period. The departure of these pilots resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights.
CEO Vinay Dube 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.” An Akasa Air spokesperson further clarified, “We have initiated legal action against the pilots who have quit without serving their mandatory contractual notice period,” in a statement to news agency PTI.
Flight Cancellations
In addition to pilot resignations, Akasa Air faced flight cancellations that disrupted travel plans for passengers. As reported on September 4, the airline canceled 15 flights in Karnataka and Kerala in August alone and delayed eight flights by two hours. The reason behind these cancellations was attributed to the need for temporary grounding of some planes to install new seats. The grounded planes were expected to return to service in September.
Eleven out of Akasa Air’s 20 planes were not configured according to the airline’s original plans, and they are set to undergo seat upgrades in the coming months. Despite these challenges, Akasa Air, which commenced operations in August 2022, continues to operate with its fleet of 20 planes.
Akasa Air’s recent struggles with pilot resignations and flight cancellations have posed significant challenges to the airline’s operations. The impact on its market share underscores the need for the airline to address these issues promptly to regain stability and trust among passengers.
