Air India Extends Support To Vistara Pilots, Says Issues 'Systemic Across TATA Aviation Entities'

Two unions of Air India alleged that the pilots were being threatened by the HR with severe consequences and were being treated as "bonded labourers."

Air India pilot unions come out in support of Vistara amid pilot crisis.

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After the pilots of the Tata-owned airline Vistara went on strike over various issues, including pay revision and rostering issues, two unions of Air India have come out in their support as well. The unions alleged that the pilots were being threatened by the HR with severe consequences and were being treated as "bonded labourers." Vistara pilots have also been protesting against the airline's decision to merge with Air India. Meanwhile, Vistara continued to see flight cancellations for the fourth consecutive day, as Air India requested TATA group's chairman to look into the concerns of the pilots.

According to media reports, Air Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPI) and the Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) sent a letter to Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Thursday stating that the issues regarding the reduction in minimum guaranteed flying allowance to 40 hours, roster malpractices, and leave approval, exist in all Tata Group airlines. They also called for a dialogue with the Tata Group to discuss how these issues could be resolved.

The two unions also stated that the issues faced by Vistara pilots are not isolated, but exist systemically across all Tata Group aviation entities. Tata Group has four airline ventures including Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India).

Claiming that the pilots are being treated as bonded labourers, the letter stated: "We believe that every pilot deserves to be valued, respected, and provided with the necessary support to excel in their profession. Pilots are being subjected to conditions and treatment reminiscent of bonded labourers."

The unions also alleged that the pilots have faced instances where the HR resorted to "threatening pilots with potential disruptions to their future, accompanied by severe consequences."

The letter further asserted that "such threats" can result in serious consequences for the safety and efficiency of operations of the airlines. 

The unions stated that the pilots who feel threatened might be reluctant to report safety concerns or speak up about issues, thereby impacting flight operations. "This poses a significant risk to the safety of our passengers and crew members and should not be taken lightly," the unions stated in the letter.

The Air India unions also stressed that pilots deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. They also stated that it was "distressing" to witness such instances where pilots were being exploited and deprived of their basic rights across Tata Group Airlines, a media report stated.

"By addressing the concerns raised by the Vistara pilots, Tata Group can demonstrate its commitment to fostering a culture of fairness, transparency and employee welfare across all its aviation  ventures, which is missing at the moment," the unions added.