Worst is behind us, we have stabilised operations: Vistara CEO

NEW DELHI: “The worst is behind us and we have stabilised our operations,” Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan said Thursday.
The airline had seen severe flight disruptions at the start of the month due to reasons like inhumane rostering that pilots protested by reporting sick en masse.
In an internal communication to employees, Kannan said: “(Reasons for disruptions seen recently included) ATC delays, bird hits, and maintenance activities…We were stretched in our pilot rosters and there was not enough resilience to withstand injects that we would otherwise have weathered. We could and should have planned better. This has been a learning experience for us…”
Unlike the merger of AIX Connect (erstwhile AirAsia India) with Air India Express, which has been smooth as the former’s employees realise this is the only way to survive, there is heartburn among staffers over the impending Vistara-AI integration.
While Vistara, which started flying in January 2015, has lost money for a vast part of its existence, it has created a niche as the finest contemporary desi full-service carrier.
While thanking the staff, especially the unhappy pilots, for stabilising operations, Kannan said, “We have worked hard over the last decade to become and remain (India’s) most loved airline. While events of the last week may seem like a setback, we have bounced back from tough situations and emerged stronger… I trust each of you to continue to put in all efforts to ensure that we do not let our brand, and our customer, down.”