DGCA imposes Rs 10 lakh penalty on Air India over violations

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for its non-compliance with regulations related to facilities required for passengers.
Following inspections at Kochi, Bengaluru, and Delhi airports, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) discovered that Air India was not adhering to the relevant Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). Subsequently, the aviation watchdog imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on the airline. DGCA had initially issued a show-cause notice to Air India on November 3, and after reviewing the airline’s response, it was determined that the carrier was not complying with specific provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements.
The non-compliance issues identified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) include the failure to provide hotel accommodation for passengers affected by delayed flights, inadequate training of some ground personnel as per stipulations, and the non-payment of compensation to international business class passengers who were made to travel on unserviceable seats. In response to these lapses, the regulator has imposed a financial penalty of Rs 10 lakh.
Air India has ordered 470 aircraft to serve the Indian economy and is set to receive a new aircraft every six days over the next 18 months, CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said on Friday. He was speaking at the 67 Assembly of Presidents of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines here. “We have new aircraft, we are recruiting many, many new crew and staff, improving the training regime and there is more work to do and we are making good progress,” he said. Speaking at a session, Wilson said a vast majority of Air India customers want reliability and punctuality, and the challenge is to satisfy customers’ requirements. Furthermore, Air India, is deploying new aircraft on international flights, and the majority of the previously grounded planes have been reintroduced into service, according to Wilson.
The Tata-owned airline has placed an order for 470 aircraft to support the growing Indian economy, which is experiencing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 percent. CEO Wilson mentioned that Air India is scheduled to receive a new aircraft every six days over the next 18 months.
He expressed confidence in Air India’s ability to compete with other airlines and boost air traffic. Subash Menon, the Director General of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, noted that the current air travel demand in India is 20 percent higher than the levels recorded in 2019, as India reopened earlier.