The crisis at Tata Group's Vistara Airlines shows no sign of abating with over 150 flight cancellations in just the last three days. The issue, stemming from a pilot shortage, has the company tirelessly working towards a resolution. On Wednesday, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan met with pilots in an effort to resolve the crisis, but failed to reach a conclusive outcome. Amidst the cancellations and delays, passengers are facing significant inconveniences.
CEO Kannan's Dialogue with Pilots
According to a report, Vistara Airlines canceled nearly 40 flights on Wednesday alone. Sources cited in a Business Today report indicate the meeting between CEO Kannan and the pilots ended without any decisive plan. Further discussions on roster schedules and salaries post-merger with Air India are speculated to have occurred. However, the meeting concluded without a resolution or contingency plan.
Optimism for Resolution Within a Week!
Amid the deadlock in Vistara Airlines, CEO Vinod Kannan has expressed hope that the airline's operations will return to normal by the next week. He mentioned upcoming discussions with pilots on salary and duty hours. The pilots have been informed that compensation for additional hours worked will be adjusted after the merger with Air India. Changes to the roster are expected to be implemented starting May.
Why the Troubled Times for the Airline?
Vistara Airlines has been dealing with challenges for some time. It’s been reported that the A320 fleet's first officers are resisting pay cuts under new contracts, leading to a shortage of crew and a subsequent increase in flight cancellations and delays.
DGCA Keeps Watch Over the Situation
Notably, as Vistara faces flight cancellations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed the airline to report daily on cancellations and delays. DGCA has also mandated Vistara to comply with regulations concerning services required to be provided to passengers in cases of flight cancellations and delays.
