Akasa Air has filed a case in the Bombay High Court accusing six pilots of breach of contract after they left the airline and joined Air India Express without fulfilling their notice period.
The airline has claimed compensation of up to Rs 22 crore from the accused pilots for training expenses and amounts incurred due to loss of operations and reputation. The lawsuits, filed earlier this week, have yet to be heard by the high court.
The airline’s latest legal action comes after poor performance in August. Alcazar Air was forced to cancel flights due to the sudden exit of pilots, which also led to a decline in market share in August.
Last month, the company issued legal notices to 19 pilots who left the airline to join Air India Express, but there was no notice period. In its response, the pilot denied the allegations and said it had paid the required security deposit to the airline.
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“We are only seeking legal redress against a small number of pilots who have abandoned their duties and left without fulfilling their mandatory contractual notice periods. This is not only a breach of contract but also a breach of national civil aviation regulations. This is not only illegal in law; “This unethical and selfish behavior resulted in flight disruptions in August, forcing last-minute flight cancellations, stranding thousands of passengers and causing significant inconvenience to the traveling public.”
