Pilot Crisis Forces Vistara Airlines to Consider Flight Reductions

Tata-owned Vistara Airlines is contemplating reducing some of its flights amidst an ongoing pilot crisis, resulting in the cancellation of numerous flights since the start of April.

According to reports from news agency Reuters, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan conveyed to employees in a meeting held on Wednesday that the airline will reassess crew schedules and potentially trim flight operations due to the persistent shortage of pilots. This decision comes in the wake of more than 125 flight cancellations since April 1, prompted by a wave of pilots taking sick leave at the close of March.

The pilots who called in sick are reportedly protesting against a pay cut preceding a merger with Tata Group’s flagship carrier, Air India, slated for later this year. Additionally, some Vistara pilots have expressed concerns about increasing fatigue amidst a demanding flight schedule.

While Vinod Kannan acknowledged the shortage of pilots, he attributed it not only to sudden sick leaves but also to many pilots reaching their flight duty time limit (FDTL).

Kannan assured employees that measures would be taken to alleviate the pressure on pilots, with visible improvements expected from May onwards.

Vistara had earlier cited various factors, including crew availability issues, for the flight cancellations. In response, the airline has deployed its Boeing widebody jets on select domestic routes to mitigate disruptions.

The situation prompted intervention from the aviation ministry, which is closely monitoring the developments. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has requested daily updates on flight disruptions.

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