In response to a recent spate of flight cancellations and delays, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan is set to convene a meeting with pilots associated with the airline this afternoon. Sources reveal that representatives from top management and the human resources team will also participate in the online meeting, as reported by NDTV Profit.
Over the past two days, more than 100 Vistara flights have been cancelled, leading to considerable inconvenience and extended wait times for passengers.
The airline attributes these disruptions to various factors, including crew unavailability, resulting in a “significant number” of cancellations and delays. Consequently, Vistara has opted to temporarily scale back its flight operations to ensure adequate connectivity across its network.
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused to passengers, Vistara is actively working to minimize customer discomfort. Efforts include deploying larger aircraft on select domestic routes, offering alternate flight options or refunds to affected customers, and striving to resume regular operations promptly.
However, amidst these operational challenges, reports indicate that Vistara pilots are expressing discontent over the revised salary structure ahead of the airline’s merger with Air India. The revised pay structure, conveyed via email with short notice, has prompted objections from pilots, who argue that their cost-to-company (CTC) has decreased under the new contract. The revised terms mandate flying 40 hours compared to the previous requirement of 70 hours, leading to concerns among pilots about potential financial implications.
While management contends that the new structure incentivizes pilots based on flight hours, discussions between the two parties have yet to yield a resolution.
In response to the situation, the Centre is closely monitoring developments and has requested daily updates from Vistara. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has urged the airline to share measures taken to address passenger inconvenience, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has instructed Vistara to submit daily reports on delays and cancellations.