 "Representational image. PTI")
Vistara has been directed by DGCA to submit daily reports, including information and details, on flight cancellations and delays of its flights. The order by the aviation watchdog comes amid Vistara cancelling a significant number of flights in recent days due to the non-availability of pilots.
On Tuesday, Vistara may cancel around 60-70 flights after approximately cancelling 50 flights on Monday.
Vistara asked to refund, compensate passengers
The DGCA has also asked Vistara to ensure that the relevant provisions of CAR Section-3, Series M, Part-IV on “Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights” are complied with like advance information, an option of refund, compensation (if applicable) to the passengers.
Why is Vistara cancelling flights?
The Tata Group and Singapore Airlines-owned Vistara said it was forced to scale down or cancel a number of flights due to a shortage of pilots and crew.
“We have had a significant number of flight cancellations and delays in the past few days due to various reasons including crew unavailability," a spokesperson from Vistara said in a statement.
The spokesperson further said the teams are working stabilise the situation and to minimise the discomfort to the customers. Further saying that operations at regular capacity will resume soon.
Vistara is using larger aircraft, including the wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and A321neo on certain domestic routes “to combine flights or accommodate more passengers, wherever possible,” the spokesperson added.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Furthermore, we are offering alternate flight options or refunds to affected customers, as applicable. Once again, we understand that these disruptions have caused immense discomfort to our customers, and sincerely apologise to them for the same,” the spokesperson said.
However, the recent disruption in Vistara flight service is not new. The carrier, which will soon merge with Tata-owned Air India, faced similar disruptions last month.
Why Vistara pilots & crew are not reporting to work?
A report by Economic Times cited sources saying several pilots, dissatisfied with the terms of their new employment contract, have been calling sick over the past two days resulting delays in numerous Vistara flight delays.
Reports said the monthly emoluments for first officers of Vistara’s A320 fleet were revised and reportedly reduced after the signing of new contracts that has upset the pilots who are not reporting to work and calling in sick.
The pilots were mailed about the revised pay structure and were reportedly instructed to sign it on short notice. They have also been informed that failure to do so will result in their exclusion from the merger. Thus, to protest this, pilots are not reporting for duty, causing a shortage of cockpit crew, a report by The Times of India said.
With inputs from agencies