Full-service carrier Vistara on Thursday cancelled less than 20 flights, down from 26 a day before in a sign its problems are easing. The airline had cancelled 52 flights on Wednesday due to a shortage of pilots.
Accordingly, airline sources said measures such as curtailment of flight schedules as well as deployment of wide-body aircraft on domestic routes are helping. Before the recent crisis, the airline was operating over 300 flights a day.
“The management and the CEO believe that the crisis will be under control by the weekend. Cancellations today were fewer than 20,” airline sources told Fe.
The airline has temporarily scaled back its flight services and deployed wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A321neo, on domestic routes, to consolidate flights or accommodate more passengers.
On Wednesday, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan, during a virtual meeting with pilots, expressed hope that the situation would come under control by the weekend. Kannan also acknowledged the fact that pilots’ rosters were utilised to the maximum. He assured the pilots that the new rosters would ensure better work-life
In the summer schedule, Vistara’s weekly departures increased by over 25% on a year-on-year basis to 2,324.The airline’s international weekly departures were also increased. They were hiked by over 50% on a year-on-year basis to 184.
As per sources, cancellations were triggered after a number of ‘First Officers’ or co-pilots went on sick leave. This was allegedly done in protest against the new wage agreement, which reduced the flying hours allotted to them from 70 per month to 40, entailing a significant pay cut.
The need for the new contract arose due to the impending merger with Air India