Air India Considers Sending A320 Pilots To Vistara Amidst Pilot Shortage Woes
In response to Vistara's ongoing pilot shortage, Air India is contemplating deploying some of its narrow-body aircraft pilots to operate A320 planes for the Tata Group-owned airline, according to media reports on Wednesday.
Citing insider sources, the reports indicate that Air India intends to send pilots to Vistara on deputation, pending necessary regulatory approvals. Both Vistara and Air India fall under the umbrella of the Tata Group.
The projected number of pilots to be deputed to Vistara is estimated to be slightly over 30, the report further elaborated.
As per the report, approximately 24 pilots are already on deputation from Air India to operate Vistara's wide-body Boeing 787 planes. This contingent comprises 16 commanders and eight first officers.
Vistara recently grappled with significant flight disruptions attributed to a high number of pilots reporting sickness, leading to numerous flight cancellations.
The pilots' discontent stems from grievances concerning a new contract entailing pay revisions and rostering issues.
In response to the operational challenges, Vistara announced on 7 April a reduction in capacity equivalent to 10 per cent or approximately 25-30 flights daily.
"We are carefully scaling back our operations by around 25-30 flights per day, i.e., roughly 10 per cent of the capacity we were operating. This will take us back to the same level of flight operations as at the end of February 2024, and provide the much-needed resilience and buffer in the rosters," Vistara stated in a released statement.
As Vistara navigates through these turbulent operational circumstances, the potential deputation of Air India's A320 pilots signifies a collaborative effort within the Tata Group to address the airline's immediate staffing challenges.
