India’s Vistara cuts flights as pilots’ protest over salary revisions

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107397201 1712282824253 gettyimages 1838645797 urbanandsport firstfli231208 npcMH

India’s Vistara airline is facing flight cuts due to pilot strikes over salary revisions. The pilots are protesting the new contract terms that will take effect after the merger with Air India. Around 150 flights have been canceled, and 200 delayed since Sunday. Tata Group, with a 51% stake in Vistara, announced the merger with Air India. The new salary structure reduces pay for pilots from about $7,400 to $5,200 for 40 hours of flying. More than 200 pilots have not signed the new contract, resulting in reduced salaries. They were given only 15 days to sign, with management sending threatening emails.

Vistara’s CEO addressed pilots, acknowledging issues with flight cancellations and delays due to grounded planes and max duty hours. He apologized for poor scheduling and overwork. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association and Indian Pilots’ Guild highlight systemic issues in Tata Group aviation entities. India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly, with projections of being the fourth-largest global travel spender by 2030.Indian travelers are expected to take 5 billion leisure trips by 2030, mostly domestically. Airlines need to ensure they have enough pilots to meet high demand.

India’s Vistara airline, owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is facing disruptions in its operations due to a strike by pilots over new salary revisions. The pilots have been calling in sick to protest the changes, leading to flight cancellations and delays. The new salary structure reduces the pay for pilots based on a minimum of 40 hours of flying, rather than the previous 70 hours. More than 200 pilots have not signed the new contract, resulting in reduced salaries. The merger of Vistara with Air India has also caused concerns among pilots about their future with the company. Issues with poor roster planning and overwork have been raised by pilots, highlighting systemic problems within Tata Group’s aviation entities. Despite the challenges faced by Vistara, India’s aviation sector is experiencing rapid growth due to the increasing middle-income population and a rise in household earnings. The ongoing events at Vistara are not expected to have a significant impact on the overall industry, but the airline must ensure it has enough pilots to meet the high demand for air travel.

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