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Pilots’ stir hits 52 Vistara flights
Protestors go on mass leave against terms of new contract following the airline’s merger with Air India
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A total of 52 Vistara flights were cancelled on Tuesday after pilots remained on mass sick leave in protest against the terms of a new contract following the airline’s decision to merge with Air India.
Sources told IANS that Vistara pilots collectively requested for sick leave over the introduction of a revised salary structure by the airline, which is seen as a prelude to its merger with Air India.
Under the terms of the new contract, which came into effect in April, Vistara pilots will now be paid a fixed salary for 40 hours instead of the previous 70 hours.
This change is in line with a standardised salary structure adopted across Tata group airlines.
Many First Officers fear that this adjustment will negatively impact their earnings. For the last few days several flights have been cancelled and delayed due to the ongoing mass leave by pilots.
On Tuesday, in response to the recent surge in flight disruptions by Vistara Airlines, a joint venture of Tata and SIA airlines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), citing various reasons including crew unavailability, mandated that the airline submit daily reports detailing flights that have been cancelled or delayed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is also monitoring Vistara’s flight cancellations.
“Ministry of Civil Aviation is monitoring the situation of Vistara flight cancellations. However, flight operations are managed by airlines themselves. Airlines have to comply with DGCA norms to ensure passenger facilitation in case of cancellation or delay of flights,” said MoCA on X.
On Monday the airline had said that in light of crew unavailability and other factors, it had experienced a notable uptick in cancellations and delays. “We have had a significant number of flight cancellations and delays in the past few days due to various reasons, including crew unavailability,” said an airline spokesperson.
Submit daily disruption reports: DGCA
In response to the recent surge in flight disruptions by Vistara Airline, a joint venture of Tata and SIA airlines, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), citing various reasons including crew unavailability, has mandated that the airline submit daily reports detailing flights that have been cancelled or delayed.
The airline has also been asked to ensure that the relevant provisions of CAR Section-3, Series M, Part-IV on “facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights” are complied with like advance information, an option of refund, compensation (if applicable) etc. to the passengers, said DGCA Director General Vikram Dev Dutt.
“Additionally, DGCA officials are monitoring the situation to ensure compliance of the above-mentioned CAR and minimise passenger inconvenience,” said Dutt.
“The ministry of civil aviation is monitoring the situation of Vistara flight cancellations. However, flight operations are managed by Airlines themselves. Airlines have to comply with DGCA norms to ensure passenger facilitation in case of cancellation or delay of flights,” said the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on X platform.
On Monday, the airline had said that in light of crew unavailability and other factors, it has experienced a notable uptick in cancellations and delays.
“We have had a significant number of flight cancellations and delays in the past few days due to various reasons, including crew unavailability,” said an airline spokesperson.
He said that the airline is working towards minimising the discomfort to the customers.IANS
