MUMBAI- On April 3, Vistara (UK) CEO Vinod Kannan met with the pilots to discuss roster schedules and salary arrangements following the merger with Air India (AI). The deadlock continues at Vistara Airlines, which the Tata Group owns.
However, sources disclosed to Business Today that the meeting concluded without reaching a resolution or contingency plan.
Vistara CEO Meets Pilots
According to sources, CEO Kannan pledged to engage in individual discussions with the pilots to address concerns such as salary structures and work hours.
The airline assured pilots they would be compensated for additional hours worked after integrating with Air India’s roster. Kannan purportedly stated that roster adjustments would be implemented starting in May.
They further stated that the airline anticipates a return to normal operations by the following week. The pilots are expressing discontent over revised contracts implemented after the airline’s merger with Air India.
The gathering included on-duty airline pilots and other officials. Deepa Chadha, Head of HR, Vinod Bhat, Vikram Mohan Dayal, and Rajiv Malhotra were present at the town hall meeting.
Today’s session was convened in response to recent delays and cancellations of Vistara flights. Some Vistara pilots took sick leave, resulting in a shortage of staff and subsequent disruptions to flight schedules.
Vistara, a collaboration between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines (SQ), operates approximately 300 routes daily, serving 50 cities.
Problems Amid New Pay Structure
Previously, it was indicated that Vistara would implement a new framework wherein pilots would receive a fixed salary for 40 hours of flight time instead of the current 70 hours. Additionally, pilots would receive compensation for any additional flying hours and an extra reward based on their tenure with the airline.
With approximately 800 pilots, the airline faced resignations from senior first officers who had completed their conversion training for operating wide-body Boeing 787 aircraft but were not assigned to fly them.
Amidst flight disruptions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, instructed Vistara to provide daily reports on flight cancellations and delays.
It also emphasized the necessity for Vistara to adhere to regulations concerning passenger facilities in case of cancellations and delays. The regulator is closely monitoring the situation to minimize inconvenience for passengers.
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