The aviation industry appears to be particularly prone to bribery and corruption which can be a typical characteristic of an industry that is subject to multiple layers of regulation. This is especially true in India where bureaucracy and red tape is widely encountered by the consumer.
The Business Standard reports that, on the basis of a preliminary investigation carried out in consultation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Central Vigilance Commission has recommended action against twelve Civil Aviation Ministry officials for extending favours to certain private airlines for securing jobs for their relatives. According to the report:
… the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also been asked to look into the case for possibility of criminal conspiracy and corruption on part of its employees …
In addition, IBN Live reports that the New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered Air India to pay compensation to a woman in relation to a bribe sought from her son by a member of its airport staff to allow him to carry extra luggage on his way to Singapore for studies.
What is more worrying is the probity of certain of India’s commercial pilots. The New York Times has lifted the lid on the practice of pilots falsifying records and paying bribes to testing officials in relation to professional examinations and qualifications.
It looks like India is not flying so high on the corruption front in the aviation sector.
