Bombay High Court Approves Akasa Airlines’ Bid to Sue Departing Pilots

India’s Akasa Airlines has received approval from the Bombay High Court to pursue legal action seeking damages from six pilots who allegedly violated their employment contracts by leaving the airline without serving the mandatory six-month notice period. The court granted Akasa’s application on September 27, allowing the carrier to seek INR 210 million (USD 2.53 million) for damages to its reputation and an additional INR 180,000 (USD 2,170) for the breach of employment contracts.

The six pilots are among a larger group of 43 who left Akasa in recent months, causing a shortage of flight crews and resulting in numerous flight cancellations and reliability issues. In response, Akasa paid INR 10 million (USD 121,000) in compensation to affected customers during July and August.

Despite these legal challenges, Akasa Airlines continues to expand its operations and recently obtained authorization to operate international flights. CEO Vinay Dube expressed plans to announce a “three-digit aircraft order” by the end of the year, emphasizing the company’s commitment to growth.

In a separate legal development, Akasa’s attempt to secure a court order directing India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to take action against the departing pilots was not successful. The Delhi High Court declined to issue such a directive, citing a lack of jurisdiction in the matter.