DGCA Fines Air India Express Rs 10 Lakh for Regulatory Non-Compliance

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India Express for failing to comply with DGCA regulations, according to an official press release.

The penalty follows a Surveillance inspection conducted by the DGCA in June 2024 as part of its Annual Surveillance Program (ASP) for scheduled domestic operators. The inspection was focused on the airline’s adherence to the DGCA-issued Passenger-centric CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) Section-3, Series M, Parts I, II, and IV.

During the inspection, it was found that Air India Express did not comply with the provisions of CAR Section-3, Series M, Part IV, particularly regarding compensation to passengers affected by flight cancellations. Following these findings, a show-cause notice was issued to Air India Express, seeking an explanation for the non-compliance.

In its response, Air India Express acknowledged that it had not adhered to the relevant CAR provisions, leading to the imposition of the Rs 10 lakh penalty by the DGCA. The DGCA reiterated its commitment to ensuring compliance with passenger-centric regulations through continuous inspections of scheduled domestic airlines at major airports.

The DGCA’s enforcement actions aim to protect the interests of air travelers by upholding stringent safety and service standards.

In a related development, the DGCA recently suspended the approval granted to Alchemist Aviation Private Limited to operate as a flying training organization. This action followed a fatal crash involving a trainee aircraft, resulting in the deaths of both the trainee pilot and the instructor. A special safety audit of Alchemist Aviation, conducted from August 23 to 24, uncovered several serious deficiencies and regulatory non-compliance, prompting the DGCA to take stringent measures against the organization.