Vistara, renowned as one of India's top full-service airlines, finds itself in turmoil as pilots protest against new pay structure changes resulting from the ongoing merger with Air India. Following Tata Sons' acquisition of Air India in 2022, efforts to align the pay structures of both airlines have led to discontent among Vistara pilots.
Under the new uniform pay structure introduced by Tata Sons in March 2024, Vistara pilots saw a reduction in fixed salaries, sparking dissatisfaction among the workforce. The revised structure reduced fixed salaries from 70 hours to 40 hours, significantly impacting the earnings of first officers (junior co-pilots), whose salaries dropped from ₹2.35 lakh to ₹1.88 lakh per month.
While some pilots accepted the new terms, others resisted, prompting Vistara to issue ultimatums via email in late March. Pilots who refused to comply were threatened with exclusion from promotion opportunities, bonuses, and the transition to Air India, indicating potential job jeopardy.
In response, a considerable number of pilots called in sick as a form of protest, leading to the cancellation of over 150 Vistara flights on 1st April 2024 and 52 flights on 2nd April 2024, with numerous delays affecting hundreds of passengers.
The wave of cancellations and disruptions prompted Vistara to announce a temporary reduction in flight operations and deploy larger aircraft on select domestic routes to mitigate the impact. The airline also committed to providing affected customers with alternate flight options or refunds, seeking to stabilize the situation.
In a bid to address the escalating situation, India's Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, intervened, demanding daily detailed reports from Vistara on flight cancellations and delays. Scindia also emphasized the importance of providing passengers with necessary facilities and compensation to minimize inconvenience.
Vistara's CEO, Vinod Kannan, addressed the pilots in an online meeting on 3rd April 2024, offering reassurance that additional flying hours post-integration with Air India would be compensated. The meeting signaled a potential resolution as disruptions began to ease, with a notable reduction in flight cancellations on 3rd April 2024.
In a surprising turn, two Air India pilot unions extended support to Vistara pilots on their strike, highlighting broader issues within Tata Group aviation companies, including salary concerns and inadequate rest periods.
As tensions simmer, the question remains whether the dispute between pilots and Vistara is approaching resolution or heralds the beginning of prolonged discord. Stay tuned for further developments.
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