New Delhi: Pilot shortage at Vistara has taken a toll on the airline’s flights, with at least 24 departures out of Delhi and Mumbai delayed on March 6, a day after there were 12 cancellations from the two airports.

The delays and cancellations impacted flights across the network, including some international departures such as to Dhaka, Hong Kong and Dubai, according to data from flight tracking website flightradar 24. Multiple sources said “10 to 15” flights have been cancelled daily for over two weeks since February 18.

On Wednesday (March 6) , several angry passengers posted about their flight delays of upto three to four hours on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We are UK 801 passengers and waiting for last 3 hours…the flight was to depart at 9 am and still no sign of any movement! Can we know,” wrote one Madhumita Guha about her flight from Delhi to Bengaluru.

Krishnan

Pilot shortage at Vistara has taken a toll on the airline’s flights, with at least 24 departures out of Delhi and Mumbai delayed on March 6, a day after there were 12 cancellations from the two airports.

On Wednesday, several angry passengers posted about their flight delays of upto three to four hours on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Your flight UK 501 is delayed. Ground staff have no clue about the departure time. Can someone help to get clarity?? People have business to attend!!,” wrote Pranjal Rai, another X user, about his flight from Delhi to Ahmedabad.

A multitude of factors have been blamed, including persisting pilot shortage, worsened by pilots reporting sick to claim unutilised leaves as the financial year end approaches, as well as a “silent protest” from some First Officers against implementation of Air India’s new salary structure at Vistara, which was announced in February.

The new formula offers an assured minimum flying of 40 hours from the earlier 70 hours. It could also entail in First Officers taking a pay cut of ₹80,000 to ₹1.4 lakh.
-B