The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Palakkad, Kerala, has directed AirAsia India to pay Rs 90,750 to a farmer after a delayed flight led to the damage of a rare hybrid jackfruit sapling he was carrying. The commission held the airline guilty of deficiency in service in the case, ‘Abdul Azeez C v Air Asia India’.
Reported by The Times Of India, the order was passed by a bench comprising President Vinay Menon V, and members Vidya A and Krishnankutty NK. The complainant, a Palakkad-based farmer involved in the cultivation and research of hybrid fruit species, had travelled in August 2025 from Kochi to Indonesia via Kuala Lumpur to procure the sapling for his farm.
According to the complaint, his return flight from Medan Kualanamu to Kuala Lumpur was delayed by several hours. As a result, he missed his connecting flight to Kochi, even though he had a layover of more than three hours. He stated that after arriving in Kuala Lumpur, he approached airline officials and requested assistance, while also expressing his willingness to pay additional charges because the sapling was sensitive and required urgent care.
He alleged that airline staff informed him that the next available flight to Kochi was not until three days later. However, he later managed to secure a seat on another AirAsia flight the following day on his own. By then, the sapling had been damaged and became unusable, making his trip ineffective and causing financial loss. He also claimed additional spending on travel and accommodation.
Consumer Forum Finds AirAsia Guilty Of Deficiency In Service
AirAsia did not appear before the commission or file a response, and the case proceeded ex parte. After examining the submitted documents, including flight tickets and travel records, the commission found that the flight delay and the airline’s failure to assist the passenger constituted a deficiency in service.
The commission ordered AirAsia to refund Rs 30,750 towards the ticket fare, pay Rs 25,000 for travel and accommodation expenses, pay Rs 25,000 as compensation for deficiency in service, and pay Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs. It further directed the airline to make the payment within 45 days, failing which it would have to pay Rs 500 per month until the amount is fully realised.
The complainant was represented by Nyayashraya Associates through advocates Jeevan John, Sidhya Sasidharan and Aravind.
