Vistara Airlines Faces Pilot Crisis Amid Salary Dispute Ahead of Air India Merger

Vistara Airlines is facing a significant crisis as a large number of pilots have called in sick, resulting in numerous flight cancellations and delays. The pilots' actions are reportedly in response to a revised salary structure that the airline was attempting to implement ahead of its merger with Air India. According to sources, pilots are protesting the terms of a new contract following the decision to merge with Air India.

The situation escalated when Vistara informed its pilots through an email, reviewed by NDTV Profit, that those who do not agree to the new pay structure would not be considered for upgrades or the one-time bonus promised to pilots. The email also indicated that such pilots would not be included in the transition to Air India, suggesting that they are not interested in continuing with the merged entity.

Following the email, several pilots called in sick, leading to a shortage of available crew and causing disruptions in flight operations. Vistara, which is co-owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, acknowledged the challenges faced and mentioned that its teams are working diligently to stabilize the situation.

Yesterday, the airline had to cancel 50 flights and delay over 160 others, and today, 38 flights have been canceled so far. Vistara is currently undergoing a merger process with Air India after Singapore Airlines acquired a 25.1% stake in the airline following its privatization.