AirAsia ordered to pay Rs 90,750 to farmer for damaged jackfruit sapling

A farmer's hybrid jackfruit sapling was damaged due to a significant flight delay by AirAsia, leading to a missed connection. The consumer commission ordered AirAsia to pay Rs 90,750 in compensation for deficiency in service, including ticket fare refund, travel expenses, and mental agony. The airline failed to appear before the commission, resulting in an ex-parte order.

A consumer commission in Kerala has directed AirAsia to pay Rs 90,750 in compensation to a farmer after a hybrid jackfruit sapling he was carrying was damaged following a flight delay and missed connection, reported TOI.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Palakkad, passed the order on May 8, 2026, after AirAsia failed to appear before the commission despite being served notice and was proceeded against ex parte.

What led to the dispute

The complainant, Abdul Azeez C., a farmer from Palakkad engaged in the "cultivation and research of hybrid fruit species," travelled from Kochi to Kuala Lumpur on August 26, 2025, and then to Kualanamu in Indonesia the following day to purchase a hybrid jackfruit sapling for his farm.

He was scheduled to return to Kochi on August 30 via Kuala Lumpur. However, his flight from Medan-Kualanamu was delayed by several hours, causing him to miss the connecting flight to Kochi.

According to the complaint, Azeez immediately approached AirAsia officials at Kuala Lumpur airport and requested an alternative flight on the same day. He also expressed willingness to pay an additional amount as he was carrying a sensitive hybrid jackfruit sapling that could not withstand a prolonged delay.

AirAsia officials allegedly informed him that the next available flight to Kochi was only on September 2, three days later.

The commission, however, found this claim misleading. It noted that the complainant was able to independently book another AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kochi on August 31 and reached Kochi the same day. The ticket was produced as evidence before the commission.

As a result of the delay and missed connection, the sapling was damaged beyond use.

"The entire expenses incurred for the trip became futile and the complainant is now compelled to undertake a fresh trip to Indonesia to purchase another sapling," the commission noted.

Commission's findings

AirAsia neither appeared before the commission nor filed a response despite receiving notice via email on February 7, 2026. The commission therefore proceeded ex parte and accepted the complainant's version in the absence of any rebuttal.

The commission observed that "the delay and missing of the connection flight were entirely due to deficiency in service and lack of co-ordination on the part of the opposite party."

"The complainant has suffered financial loss and mental agony due to the deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party and is bound to compensate the complainant for that," the court further observed.

The commission directed AirAsia to refund the ticket fare of Rs 30,750 for the Medan-Kualanamu–Kochi journey, reimburse Rs 25,000 towards travel and accommodation expenses, pay Rs 25,000 as compensation for deficiency in service, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.

The airline has been ordered to make the payment within 45 days. Failing this, it will be liable to pay Rs 500 per month as solatium until the amount is fully settled.