In response to its ongoing operational hurdles, Vistara Airlines made an announcement on Sunday regarding a strategic reduction in its flight services. This carefully orchestrated decision aims to enhance the airline's operational resilience by scaling back approximately 25-30 flights daily, accounting for roughly 10% of its previous capacity.
The objective behind this move, according to a Vistara spokesperson, is to realign flight operations to levels reminiscent of those observed at the conclusion of February 2024. By implementing these adjustments, Vistara intends to strengthen its roster management, thereby establishing a more durable and sustainable operational framework.
Recent disruptions, including numerous flight cancellations triggered by a widespread pilot sick leave protest against revised contractual terms following the merger with Air India, prompted this strategic recalibration.
The spokesperson emphasized, "We are carefully scaling back our operations by around 25-30 flights per day, i.e., roughly 10% of the capacity we were operating. This will take us back to the same level of flight operations as at the end of February 2024, and provide the much-needed resilience and buffer in the rosters."
Furthermore, the spokesperson assured customers that cancellations were predominantly within the domestic network and were executed well in advance to minimize inconvenience. Efforts were made to accommodate affected passengers on alternative flights wherever applicable. The spokesperson noted that all necessary changes for April 2024 had been implemented, leading to an improvement in on-time performance in recent days. The airline expressed optimism regarding stable operations for the remainder of the month and beyond.
The root cause of the recent disruptions lies in the pilots' collective sick leave, a response to the introduction of a revised salary structure preceding the merger with Air India. Under the new contract effective from April, Vistara pilots will receive a fixed salary for 40 hours instead of the previous 70 hours, aligning with a standardized salary structure adopted across Tata Group airlines.
Concerns arise among many first officers regarding potential earnings reductions due to this adjustment. In response to the surge in flight disruptions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated that Vistara submit daily reports detailing cancelled or delayed flights, citing various reasons including crew unavailability.
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