Vistara Airlines, a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, has announced a strategic reduction in daily flights by approximately 25-30 amidst operational disruptions attributed to pilot shortages. The airline, which typically operates over 300 flights daily, has faced a wave of cancellations since April 1, reportedly due to a significant number of pilots taking sick leave.

Sources suggest that some pilots have cited reduced pay and increased fatigue from a demanding schedule as reasons for their absence, amid anticipation of a merger with Tata-owned Air India later this year. While Vistara did not directly reference pilot absenteeism, a spokesperson emphasized that the flight reductions aim to bolster operational resilience and provide flexibility in roster management.

The flight cutbacks primarily impact Vistara's domestic network, reverting operations to levels seen in late February. The airline anticipates these adjustments will stabilize operations for the remainder of the month and going forward. Last week, India's civil aviation ministry announced monitoring efforts following the surge in Vistara's flight cancellations and has sought clarification on the disruptions.

Vistara remains committed to passenger service and aims to swiftly resolve these operational challenges while preparing for future developments in India's dynamic aviation sector.