Key facts
- AirAsia was ordered to pay Rs 90,750 in compensation to a farmer.
- The compensation is for a damaged hybrid jackfruit sapling due to a flight delay and missed connection.
- The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Palakkad, issued the order.
- AirAsia failed to appear before the commission, resulting in an ex-parte order.
- The compensation includes a fare refund, travel expenses, and damages for mental agony.
A consumer commission in Kerala has ordered AirAsia to pay Rs 90,750 in compensation to a farmer after a hybrid jackfruit sapling he was carrying was damaged due to a flight delay and missed connection. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Palakkad, passed the order on May 8, 2026.
Abdul Azeez C., a farmer from Palakkad, traveled from Kochi to Kuala Lumpur on August 26, 2025, and then to Kualanamu in Indonesia to purchase a hybrid jackfruit sapling. His return flight to Kochi on August 30 was delayed by several hours, causing him to miss his connecting flight.
Azeez approached AirAsia officials at Kuala Lumpur airport, explaining the sensitive nature of the sapling and requesting an alternative flight on the same day. He was allegedly informed that the next available flight to Kochi was on September 2. However, the commission found this claim misleading, noting that Azeez was able to book another AirAsia flight for August 31 and reached Kochi the same day.
As a result of the delay, the sapling was damaged beyond use, rendering the entire trip futile. The commission observed that the delay and missed connection were due to AirAsia's deficiency in service and lack of coordination.
AirAsia did not appear before the commission or file a response despite receiving notice. The commission proceeded ex parte, accepting the complainant's version. It ordered AirAsia to refund the ticket fare of Rs 30,750 for the Medan-Kualanamu–Kochi journey, reimburse Rs 25,000 for travel and accommodation expenses, pay Rs 25,000 as compensation for deficiency in service, and Rs 10,000 for litigation costs. The airline must make the payment within 45 days.