- Saturday, April 19, 2025
The airline, which is a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, says it is trying to create a better work-life balance for the pilots.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN full-service airline Vistara has decided to cut down its operations this month due to widespread cancellation of flights and delays stemming from a shortage of pilots.
The carrier, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has seen nearly 150 instances of cancellations and 200 flight delays since March 31.
Media reports suggest that the disruption is a result of pilots taking mass sick leave to protest against changes following the airline’s merger with Air India.
Read: Why Tata-owned Vistara facing frequent flight disruptions
Sources in Vistara have said that it is actively exploring ways to improve the work-life balance for its pilots.
Speaking to BBC, an official of the airlines said it was “scaling back its network temporarily” and that customers would be refunded for cancelled flights.
India’s The Hindu newspaper reported that at a meeting on Wednesday (3), Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan apologised to pilots for “taxing schedules” and sought their “support” in resolving issues.
Read: Non-stop daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Kerala from May 9
He also said that cancellation of flights would continue until the end of April to create a pilot buffer.
Recent reports indicate that pilots at Vistara are dissatisfied with the new pay structure and work hours introduced as part of the merger process.
They have raised additional grievances against irregular rostering practices and have expressed worries about their career trajectories post-merger, which is slated for completion next year.
As per an NDTV report, the pilots have been falling ill more often, possibly due to “flying at the limits of the maximum duty limitations”. This has raised concerns about their well-being and safety.
A Vistara official told the BBC that the airline recognizes that the pilots’ rosters have been utilized to the fullest and is actively working to adjust them to guarantee a “better work-life balance” for them.
The airline, though, said there had been no significant increase in pilots’ reporting sick and that the delay in flights last month were also caused by factors such as “bird hits, planned maintenance, weather disruptions and congestion”.
The Tata Group, which holds the majority stake in Vistara, bought debt-ridden Air India – formerly India’s national carrier – from the government for $2.2 billion (£1.8bn) three years ago.
It is now in the middle of consolidating its airline business by merging its various entities.
Vistara will invest $250 million (£198 million) for a 25.1 per cent stake in the combined entity once the merger gets over.
(With BBC inputs)
