Despite dissatisfaction, more than 98% of Vistara pilots agree to new contract

Despite the looming merger of Vistara into Air India causing discontent among pilots, over 98% of them have signed the new agreement. The Tata Group is in the process of merging its low-cost carriers, AIX Connect and Vistara, into Air India Express and Air India respectively.

The merger of the low-cost carrier AIX Connect is progressing smoothly as employees realized it was necessary for the survival of their airline. However, the merger of Vistara, a successful full-service airline, has led to dissatisfaction among its employees, particularly pilots, resulting in significant flight disruptions.

Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan addressed the disruptions, stating that the airline is working to hire more pilots and adjust operations to improve resilience. Larger aircraft are being deployed on select routes to accommodate more customers, with the aim of stabilizing operations by the end of April.

Regarding the new contracts pilots have to sign for the merger, Kannan mentioned that while most pilots have signed, some have concerns that are being addressed. The new contract will reduce the minimum flying allowance from 70 to 40 hours to align with Air India’s standards, leading to discontent among pilots across the group airlines.

Over the past year, Tata Group airlines have been exchanging pilots between different airlines within the group to manage the transition. Despite the challenges, the Tata Group is working to ensure a smooth merger process and address the concerns of its employees.