Vistara CEO announces that 98% of pilots have agreed to new pay deal

Vistara Pilots Sign New Pay Agreement Amidst Discontent

NEW DELHI: Vistara, the Tatas-owned airline, has been facing turbulence as over 98% of its 1,000-odd pilots have signed a new pay agreement. CEO Vinod Kannan addressed the situation on Saturday, acknowledging the discontent among some pilots over reduced remuneration.

Despite the simmering discontent, Kannan assured that the airline has not seen a significant spike in pilot attrition. He mentioned that the management is actively engaging with pilots to address their concerns and queries regarding the new contract.

The airline has been grappling with disruptions, especially in light of its upcoming merger with Air India by the year-end. Kannan apologized for recent disruptions and assured that the airline is working diligently to stabilize its operations.

The merger process involves integrating Vistara into Air India, which has led to discontent among employees, particularly pilots. The reduction in flying allowance from 70 to 40 hours under the new contract has been a point of contention among pilots.

Kannan promised a steady run soon, mentioning the deployment of larger aircraft on select domestic routes to accommodate more customers. He expressed optimism about stabilizing operations by the weekend and improving on-time performance.

The Tatas are also in the process of merging their low-cost carriers, AIX Connect and Vistara, into Air India Express and Air India, respectively. While the LCC merger is progressing smoothly, Vistara’s merger has sparked discontent among employees, highlighting the challenges faced by the airline during this transition period.