Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Akasa Air ₹10 lakh for not compensating seven passengers who were denied boarding on a Bengaluru-Pune flight on September 6.

The regulatory action follows a routine surveillance inspection which revealed a service deficiency and violation of rules by the airline.

According to the DGCA order, Akasa denied boarding to seven passengers as the aircraft operating on the route had nine unserviceable seats. The passengers were accommodated on an IndiGo flight to Pune which was over an hour after the Akasa flight.

As per rules, no compensation is payable in such cases if an alternate flight is arranged within an hour of the original flight departure time. If the delay is beyond one hour, compensation needs to be paid as per rules

Show-cause notice

Akasa Air was issued a show-cause notice on November 11 after which the airline initiated steps to compensate the affected passengers. Unsatisfied with the airline’s response, the regulator imposed the fine.

“We continue to work closely with the DGCA to address this matter and enhance our protocols as required by the regulator,” Akasa Air said.

Domestic airlines have become more proactive in compensating or providing required facilities under law following regulatory action, an official said.

In March the DGCA fined Air India ₹30 lakh for failing to provide a wheelchair to a 80-year-old passenger at Mumbai airport. The passenger chose to walk towards the terminal and died due to a heart attack shortly after.

Air India Express was fined ₹10 lakh in August for violating various regulations pertaining to refunds, assistance to passengers with limited mobility among others.