Vistara, India’s fast-growing airline, is grappling with significant flight disruptions stemming from pilot discontent over revised salary structures. Over the past two days, more than 100 flights have been cancelled, causing inconvenience for passengers and prompting intervention from the Indian government.
Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, attributes the disruptions to ‘crew unavailability’. However, reports suggest this is linked to pilot dissatisfaction with a recently communicated pay structure revision. The new terms, implemented ahead of Vistara’s planned merger with Air India, reportedly reduce pilots’ cost-to-company (CTC) and require them to fly fewer hours (40 hours compared to the previous 70). While management claims the revised structure incentivises pilots based on flight hours, concerns remain about potential financial implications.
In response to the situation, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan is scheduled to meet with pilots today. Representatives from top management and human resources are also expected to participate in this online meeting, aimed at finding a resolution.
The Indian government is closely monitoring developments. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has urged Vistara to address passenger inconvenience and provide details of mitigation measures. Additionally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has requested daily reports from the airline regarding flight disruptions.
Vistara, meanwhile, is working to minimise passenger discomfort by deploying larger aircraft on certain routes, offering alternative flights or refunds, and striving for a swift resumption of normal operations. However, a swift resolution with pilots appears crucial to restore normalcy and ensure passenger confidence.
