Vistara crisis deepens: Centre steps in amid flight delays, cancellations

Vistara faces escalating turmoil as flight cancellations and delays continue, prompting intervention from the Centre. At least 38 Vistara flights originating from key cities were cancelled today due to non-availability of pilots, following yesterday's cancellation of over 50 flights and delay of approximately 160 others. Passengers have voiced frustrations over poor communication and extended wait times, leading to criticism of the airline's handling of the situation.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has demanded a detailed report from Vistara regarding the disruptions and steps taken to address passenger inconvenience. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has also instructed Vistara to provide daily updates on flight delays and cancellations. In response, Vistara has acknowledged the inconvenience faced by customers and outlined measures to minimize disruption, including temporarily reducing flight operations and deploying larger aircraft on select routes. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Vistara pilots are protesting against a revised salary structure ahead of the airline's merger with Air India, leading to sick calls and further exacerbating operational challenges. As passengers continue to grapple with delays and cancellations, the airline urges travelers to verify flight status before heading to the airport to avoid inconvenience.