133708More than 80 flights of AI express cancelled

Vistara crew in flight. Pic: Vistara

Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan on Thursday addressed the airline staff, reassuring them that they’ve overcome the worst of recent flight disruptions, and operations have stabilised. Due to pilot shortages, the Tata Group airline had to reduce capacity temporarily by 10%, equating to 25-30 fewer flights daily.

Kannan admitted to the necessity of better planning but viewed the ordeal as a valuable learning experience. He acknowledged the challenging start to the new financial year, highlighting significant operational disruptions from March 31 to April 2.

Despite customer anxiety and frustration, Kannan assured the staff that operations have stabilised, with an on-time performance (OTP) reaching 89% on April 9, 2024, the second highest among Indian airlines. The carrier, with around 6,500 employees, including 1,000 pilots, held virtual meetings with pilots to address concerns, including reported sicknesses in protest of a new contract affecting pay.

Various factors contributed to disruptions, including ATC delays, bird strikes, and maintenance activities. Kannan emphasized the need for better planning and a thorough review of the situation. While most cancellations occurred in the domestic network, the airline is strategizing for May and beyond. Despite setbacks, Kannan urged staff to maintain their commitment to customer service, expressing confidence in the airline’s resilience. Vistara has compensated affected customers as per regulatory requirements and provided additional service recovery vouchers.

With 70 aircraft in its fleet, the airline operates over 300 daily flights in the ongoing summer schedule. Kannan commended staff for their efforts during challenging times and thanked pilots for their cooperation and support.