DGCA suspends Akasa Air examiner for six months over skill test lapses

DGCA suspends Akasa Air's Captain Kunal Khajuria for six months for procedural violations during a pilot skill test; retest ordered and examiner training mandated

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended one of Akasa Air’s designated examiners (DEs) for six months over alleged violation of rules during a pilot skill test, Business Standard has learnt.

 

“Suspension of DE approval of Capt. Kunal Khajuria is hereby ordered for a period of six (06) months, effective from the date of this order,” the order dated July 29 read. The action followed a formal complaint by Akasa’s Director of Training, Captain Sewak Singh Khosa, and was based on findings from a personal hearing and detailed review of a check session conducted by Khajuria.

 

The regulator found significant procedural deviations during the skill test of a trainee pilot, Captain Sanjeev Panwar, conducted by Khajuria. It declared the test “null and void” and directed a retest by a qualified examiner under the observation of a type-rated Flight Operations Inspector (FOI).

 

The DGCA said, “Captain Kunal Khajuria is hereby warned to adhere to the regulatory compliances and regulatory standards in future.”

 

Before he can resume examiner duties, Khajuria must undergo a mandatory Designated Examiner Indoctrination Course and a standardisation check with a DGCA-approved FOI, it mentioned. Akasa Air did not respond to Business Standard’s queries on this matter.

 

Akasa Air’s standalone net loss surged 18.7 per cent to ₹1,983 crore in the financial year 2025 (FY25), amid rising employee, maintenance and airport costs, along with forex losses. 

 

Moreover, the airline has witnessed a string of high-level departures during the last few months. Vice president (in-flight services) Ajit Bhagchandani recently resigned too.

 

In May, three other senior executives, Rishabh Dev (head of long term operations and strategy), Amol Mane (vice president, aircraft acquisition and leasing), and Vineet Mishra (deputy general manager, catering) were either leaving or serving notice-period.

 

Akasa’s fleet expansion, too, has slowed due to delayed deliveries from Boeing.

 

From 36 weekly flights in August 2022, the airline grew rapidly to 945 by June 2023. However, in the two years since, it has added only 125 more weekly flights, a modest 13.2 per cent growth, reaching 1,070 services by June 2025.

 

Of the 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft it has ordered, just 30 have joined the fleet, with only six added in the past 12 months.

 

This delay has left a large portion of its pilot workforce underutilised. While the airline currently has 775 pilots, only 78 per cent are flying, though Akasa expects full utilisation by the end of the year.

 

Despite these setbacks, Akasa maintains that its financial performance is aligned with its long-term strategy.

 

“Running an airline is a business of fixed costs and needs some scale before we turn profitable,” a spokesperson said in June.

 

The airline also said it remains net cash positive at the operating level and is targeting another 40 per cent growth in available seat kilometres (ASKs) this financial year.  

Rising trouble 

Procedural deviations found during skill test of trainee pilot

Test declared “null and void” and a retest directed

Suspension comes as airline witnessed high-level departures during the last few months

Akasa’s net loss surged amid rising employee, maintenance, forex and airport costs