Vistara pilots' en masse protest leads to delays, cancellations. Angry passengers slam airline

Passengers faced stark disappointment and frustration as Vistara, one of India's premier airlines, grappled with a barrage of flight cancellations for the second day in a row. At least 38 flights, originating from key cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, were grounded, leaving passengers stranded and plans shattered.

This crisis comes hot on the heels of yesterday's chaos, during which 70 Vistara flights were axed, and a further 180 were delayed, plunging the airline into a whirlwind of discontent and criticism.

The heart of the matter lies in the acute shortage of pilots, a situation exacerbated by the unrest brewing within Vistara's cockpit over salary revision. Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has intervened, demanding answers from Vistara management regarding the mounting flight cancellations and delays.

In a statement yesterday, the airline admitted to facing a "significant number" of disruptions, attributing them to various factors, including crew unavailability.

Irate passengers, stranded at airports for hours, took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the airline co-owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.

Former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai slammed Vistara for its “terrible service” on Monday slamming the airline for "no announcements" or clarity.

Hi Mohandas, we understand the inconvenience the delay has caused you. The flight UK574 was delayed due to operational reasons. No matter how hard we try to operate as scheduled certain delays are unprecedented. (1/3)

— Vistara (@airvistara) April 1, 2024

One X user recounted how the pilot walked away even after boarding was complete after significant delays on a Bengaluru-Mumbai flight on Monday.

#Vistara #Flightcancellation
UK864 7:00pm 1st April Bengaluru-Mumbai after all the pushing of timings...passengers boarded then Piolt walks away and flight canceled. Pathetic situation. pic.twitter.com/no9BUxPBoU

— Jyothi (@Jyothi_esl) April 2, 2024

Another user wrote: “Thanks to Air Vistara, T2 of Bengaluru Airport has become a railway platform. Almost every flight delayed or cancelled. No airline employee at the counters. Customer care down for technical reasons says their message.”

Thanks to @airvistara T2 of #Bengaluru #Airport has become a #railway #platform. Almost every flight delayed or cancelled. No airline employee at the counters. Customer care down for technical reasons says their message. pic.twitter.com/9wxU2IP47x

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— Anil Hebbar (@anil_hebbar) April 1, 2024

A third passenger wrote that he was accommodated on an Air India flight, after a nine-hour delay. “No facilities to passengers for the delay, no airline staff after security check. Customer care doesn't work,” the passenger wrote. Vistara also commented they have also authorised a full refund.

Subsequently, a full refund for your PNR has been authorized as desired in view of the cancellation. Since the ticket has been booked through a travel agent, we recommend you get in touch with them to claim the full refund. (2/3)

— Vistara (@airvistara) April 2, 2024

Reports indicate that Vistara pilots are up in arms over a revised salary structure, a contentious issue linked to the impending merger with Air India. The pilots, it seems, are not taking this development lying down. They've staged a mass sick leave protest, a bold move in response to the airline's attempts to implement the new pay scheme.

The situation escalated when Vistara, in an email to its pilots, laid down the ultimatum: sign the dotted line or risk exclusion from the merger process and associated benefits.

Unsurprisingly, this ultimatum sparked a wave of discontent among the pilots, leading to a surge in sick leave requests and subsequent flight disruptions. Vistara, meanwhile, is scrambling to contain the fallout, with promises of operational adjustments and apologies to placate the aggrieved passengers.

Also read viral post: Vistara celebrating its ‘20th best’ rank has internet in splits

With flight schedules thrown into disarray, passengers caught in the crossfire are left grappling with uncertainty and inconvenience. The airline, in a bid to salvage the situation, advises passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.