The Vistara Pilot Crisis | Talk to each other! Experts on resolving the standoff between airline and pilots

Vistara is undergoing a merger with Air India, and under the new contract, pilots will receive payment for 40 flying hours instead of 70. Due to this many pilots are on sick leave en masse.

Sanjay Lazar, Aviation Expert & Lawyer believes that disquiet can be overcome if there is discussion and dialogue between airlines and its pilots. He said “Pilots are not asking for more money, they are protesting compensation being reduced post-merger. Airlines need to feel the pulse of pilots across India, there is large-scale dissatisfaction across all airlines in India. New contracts owing to merger have resulted in salaries being slashed by ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh per month.”

MR Sivaraman, former DGCA Director-General, believes that the aviation regulator has no role to play in the Vistara pilot strike. He said, “Pilots are highly trained technocrats and should behave that way. Pilots can’t behave like working-class individuals and go on strike when they like. Pilots don’t realise that they are injuring the interests of customers who plan to fly for various emergencies.”

Also read: Vistara flight cancellations draw passenger ire and government questions

Sivaraman also believes that airline pilots consistently seek more benefits and facilities from their employers. He said, “Airlines have to ensure they are competitive in the market, can’t keep paying more to their pilots. If the airline pays more to pilots, they will also have to suitably compensate cabin crew & ground staff.”

Sanjay Lazar also observes a lack of dialogue within airlines, noting that more pilots are leaving than joining airlines. He added, “Indian pilots are earning much less than those in the world aviation market. Indian airlines cannot ask one group of employees to take a pay-cut so that the company can benefit.”

The former DGCA Sivaraman believes that whenever mergers take place, emoluments are always protected. He feels that Vistara has multiple case studies to refer to while executing its own merger. Emoluments can be protected by turning them into special pay packages or honorariums.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a statement indicating that it is monitoring the situation of Vistara flight cancellations. However, flight operations are managed by Airlines themselves. Airlines must comply with DGCA regulations to ensure passenger facilitation in cases of flight cancellations or delays.

Aviation regulator DGCA also stepped in to address this issue and ordered Vistara to submit daily information report on flights that are being cancelled and delayed.

DGCA stated, “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. Additionally, DGCA officials are monitoring the situation to ensure compliance of above mentioned CAR and minimize passenger inconvenience.”

Also read: Vistara cancels 50 flights as pilots go on mass ‘sick leave’