Vistara is set to temporarily scale down its flight operations due to a shortage of pilots, as numerous first officers have reportedly fallen ill in protest against a pay revision. This situation has compelled the full-service carrier to cancel approximately 50 flights on Monday, according to insider sources.
Insiders familiar with the matter anticipate that the number of cancellations may rise, with projections indicating that up to 70 flights could be affected by Tuesday. A spokesperson for Vistara acknowledged the significant disruptions experienced in recent days, attributing them to various factors such as crew unavailability.
In response to the situation, the airline has opted to temporarily reduce its flight frequency to ensure continued connectivity across its network, as stated by the spokesperson in an official statement. While expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers, specific details regarding the extent of flight cancellations were not disclosed.
Efforts are underway to address the issue and restore operations to normal capacity promptly, the spokesperson assured. Pilot shortages have been a recurring challenge for Vistara since the revision of monthly remuneration for first officers of its A320 fleet under new contracts.
Despite the setbacks, the airline is committed to mitigating customer inconvenience, with measures in place to accommodate affected passengers. Notably, Vistara has deployed larger aircraft like the B787-9 Dreamliner and A321neo on select domestic routes to consolidate flights or accommodate higher passenger volumes wherever feasible.
According to sources, the sick leave taken by first officers is attributed to significant reductions in their salaries, with certain components being slashed while incentives tied to flying hours are raised. Although specific figures regarding Vistara's daily flight operations were not immediately available, the airline has announced plans to increase its weekly flights by 25.22% to 2,324 in the ongoing summer schedule.
Alternate flight arrangements or refunds are being offered to affected passengers, with Vistara expressing apologies for the disruptions and assuring customers of efforts to swiftly stabilize operations and return to regular capacity
