Vistara Airlines Faces Turbulence as Pilots Protest New Pay Structure
Vistara Airlines, a Tata group airline, faced a wave of cancellations and delays on Monday as a protest by its pilots disrupted operations. The pilots were reportedly protesting against a new pay structure that aligns with Tata group’s flagship airline, Air India, with which Vistara is set to merge.
Over 60 Vistara flights were cancelled and nearly 180 were delayed on Monday, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. The disruptions were attributed to “crew unavailability” by the airline, which acknowledged the impact on customers and expressed regret for the inconvenience caused.
In response to the situation, Vistara announced a temporary reduction in its daily flight schedule and the deployment of larger aircraft on select domestic routes to combine flights. The airline also offered alternate flight options or refunds to affected customers.
The root of the issue lies in the discontent among Vistara pilots over the new pay structure, which reduces their minimum guaranteed flying allowance. Many pilots fear a notable cut in their take-home salaries under the new arrangement.
The ongoing consolidation of airlines under the Tata umbrella, including the merger of Air India and Vistara, has added complexity to the situation. The merger is expected to be completed in 2025, with Singapore Airlines holding a significant stake in the merged entity.
As Vistara works to stabilize its operations and address the concerns of its pilots, passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration over the flight disruptions. The airline is striving to resume normal operations soon and minimize the impact on its customers.
