Vistara plans to significantly increase its staff strength to a total of 5,000 by the end of this year, as the full-service operator focuses on increasing capacity utilization, expanding the fleet and further improving overall services. Currently, the airline has around 4,000 people.
- After being significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, including the third wave that negatively affected air traffic that was on the road to recovery at the end of last year, the airline industry is once again seeing an improvement in traffic .
- In this context, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan, in a not-so-common move last week, admitted that the airline did not live up to customer expectations and assured that steps are being taken to address “gaps”. up in arms”. .
“We wanted to make sure to explain our side of the story…
In February, what we saw is demand is back and people are starting to travel and I think with cases going down, this, knock on wood, is going to be the trend. for the future,” Kannan told PTI in an interview on Tuesday.
While he emphasized that the airline is working on a multi-pronged strategy, he said that it currently operates more flights compared to the pre-COVID period.
“We have about 220 to 250 departures a day.
Since we have achieved that momentum, (we have to see) how we continue to grow and how to ensure that the commitments we have made are kept as we go forward.
It also implies involving our staff, partners… ”, he pointed out.
The airline, which currently has 50 planes, aims to have 70 planes by the end of 2023 after taking into account some planes that will be returned to lessors.
Vistara, a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, began hiring for operational roles sometime in October last year before the third wave of coronavirus. Our current staff is around 4,000… so we hope to get to 5,000 as we go through the year.
As we take on new aircraft, deliver and increase capacity utilization, I think we’ll see that number towards the end of this year.
“This will include everyone on Vistara’s payroll, but will not include external outsourced partners such as call centers or ground handling agencies,” Kannan said.
Before the pandemic, the airline, which began international operations in August 2019, had a fleet of around 40 aircraft and the number has increased to 50.
“There is a requirement as we are using the aircraft better.
In the last two years, although the number of fleets increased, the use of aircraft was lower…so there was no need to increase the scale.
That process has now started and is in full swing“
Vistara chief said, adding that people are also being hired for administrative work
In his message to clients last week, Kannan promised that many changes and improvements are in the works, including fast-tracking initiatives across his IT infrastructure to make the digital experience more convenient.
I have taken stock of things as they stand, and I want to assure you that we are addressing some of the gaps on a war footing.
“We are actively working with our partners to significantly reduce the time it takes to connect with us via phone call and ensure a consistent experience at the airport and on the ground,” he said in the message.
The airline has restored some of its onboard services to pre-pandemic standards, including restarting non-vegetarian meals in Economy Class on all domestic flights.
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