New Delhi: Akasa Air, founded in December 2021 by the late billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and others, is currently dealing with serious internal issues, a group of pilots has raised concerns about how the airline is being run and they are actively criticizing CEO Vinay Dube and Vice President Captain Floyd Gracious. In a letter sent to the Aviation Minister, the pilots claim that Dube isn’t able to control the company, which they say has become a joke in the aviation industry.
The pilots are upset because Captain Gracious has brought in his former colleagues from Jet Airways to take up important roles at Akasa, which has led them to question how well the airline is being managed. They’ve also sent this letter to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other officials, asking for help as the working conditions at Akasa are getting worse.
Since the airline started, there has been a lot of dissatisfaction among employees. Over 40 pilots, along with several crew members and engineers, have left for better jobs. Instead of fixing these internal problems, Akasa has taken legal action against some of the employees who left, which the pilots say shows poor management.
Even though Dube has publicly promised to create a top-notch workplace focused on safety and employee satisfaction, many workers feel these promises haven’t been kept. The DGCA has already reprimanded Akasa Air for safety and training lapses. For example, in December 2024, they suspended the director of operations and the director of training for failing to meet required pilot training standards.
There are also worries about how Akasa is training its pilots. Reports suggest that pilots are being trained on simulators that aren’t even approved for certain operations, which could lead to safety issues.
The pilots’ letter also says that management has ignored key safety rules, and some department heads are not taken seriously by the DGCA due to past mistakes. The DGCA has fined Akasa Air several times for putting public safety at risk.
Captain Floyd Gracious is currently suspended over accusations of neglecting safety and training rules. The pilots believe his leadership has allowed personal interests to overshadow the airline’s operational needs. This situation has raised concerns about how well Akasa is being run, especially since it was initially launched with high hopes by investors, including Jhunjhunwala’s family.
The pilots also mentioned several employee-related issues at Akasa, such as poor scheduling for engineers and crew members and issues with hiring and overall performance. These complaints show that the airline is struggling to meet its goals and manage its operations effectively.
