DGCA cracks whip: Kolkata airport penalised Rs 20 lakh for lapses in runway maintenance; Star Air fined Rs 5 lakh

NEW DELHI: Empowered to levy fines last summer, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun penalising airlines and airport operators for non-compliance of mandatory safety standards. It has fined Kolkata Airport Rs 20 lakh — the steepest penalty imposed to date by the regulator — for lapses like improper maintenance of runway. And Bengaluru-based Star Air has been fined Rs 5 lakh for violating safety norms like an aircraft panel not being closed properly before departure and then falling off during landing.
“An audit was done of NSCBIA some months back. Non-violation of norms were observed in some areas, mainly improper maintenance of runway, electrical lighting, foreign object debris programme. After the lapses were found, a showcase notice was issued to the airport operator as action can be taken only after seeking comments from the agency concerned,” said people in the know. After examining comments from Kolkata Airport operator, the DGCA decide to levy a fine of Rs 20 lakh.
Similarly, DGCA had audited Star Air last November that revealed some non-compliances.