No End To Vistara's Turbulence As Flights Remain Cancelled, Pilots Quit

Dozens of Air Vistara flights were cancelled on Wednesday as the crew protest forced the airline to cut down on its operations. A total of 52 Vistara flights were cancelled on Tuesday and a similar number is expected on Wednesday also.

Pilots on sick leave

Pilots have gone on mass sick leave, forcing the Tata Group SIA joint venture to scale down operations to the anger and discomfort of thousands of passengers.

REUTERS

The airline operates a little over 300 flights daily and has a fleet of 70 planes comprising A320-family aircraft and Boeing 787s.

Why Vistara pilots are protesting

The pilots have been on a warpath with the Vistara management over the terms of a new contract following the airline's decision to merge with Air India.

Under the terms of the new contract, which came into effect in April, Vistara pilots will now be paid a fixed salary for 40 hours instead of the previous 70 hours.

This change is in line with a standardised salary structure adopted across Tata Group Airlines.

Many First Officers fear that this adjustment will negatively impact their earnings.

REUTERS

15 Vistara pilots quit

PTI on Tuesday reported that at least 15 senior first officers resigned from Vistara and joined a domestic budget carrier.

The airline has around 800 pilots and the senior first officers who resigned had completed their conversion training that allowed them to operate wide-body Boeing 787 planes. However, they did not get the duty for flying the 787 aircraft.

DGCA seeks daily report

Meanwhile, aviation watchdog DGCA on Tuesday asked Vistara to submit a daily report on flight cancellations and delays.

AFP

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in view of various flight disruptions of Vistara, it has asked the airline to submit daily information and details of flights that are being cancelled and delayed.

The civil aviation ministry is also monitoring the situation of flight cancellations at Vistara.

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