Causing a wave of travel disruption, Vistara, the full-service carrier, cancelled at least 38 flights today from India’s major cities due to a sudden pilot shortage. This turmoil comes after a day when the airline axed over 50 flights and delayed approximately 160, stranding and frustrating passengers.

The cities hardest hit include Mumbai with 15 cancellations, Delhi with 12, and Bengaluru with 11.

What are Vistara, Civil Aviation authorities doing to tackle the issue?

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has noted that it is closely monitoring the situation.

At the same time, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has demanded that Vistara provide a comprehensive report on the cancellations and the steps it is taking to mitigate passenger inconvenience.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is also keeping a close eye, requiring daily updates from the airline on its operational setbacks.

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Vistara, meanwhile, has acknowledged the severe inconvenience caused to its travellers, attributing the recent spate of cancellations and delays to multiple factors, including the non-availability of crew members.

The airline has been forced to scale back its flight operations temporarily and is employing larger aircraft to accommodate more passengers where possible. Additionally, Vistara is offering refunds or alternative flight options to those affected.

What’s causing Vistara to cancel, and delay flights?

At the heart of the issue, Vistara pilots are reportedly staging a sick-out in protest against a new salary structure introduced as part of the airline’s impending merger with Air India. The airline has warned the pilots, who are unhappy with the revised pay and the pressure to hastily agree to these terms, of exclusion from the merger if they do not comply.

Passengers have turned to social media to voice their distress over the disrupted services. Vistara insists that the delays stem from operational challenges and is earnestly working towards normalizing its schedule, promising a swift return to regular service levels and extending apologies to its customers for the disruption and inconvenience caused.

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