Vistara to Fly Till November 11, Merger With Air India to Take Effect From November 12
In a major development for the Indian aviation industry, Tata-owned full service carrier Vistara has announced that it will continue operations till November 11, before merging with the group’s flagship airline Air India from November 12 onwards.
As per the announcement made by Vistara recently, the airline will stop taking fresh bookings for travel from November 12 onwards, as all flights from that date will be operated by Air India using Vistara aircraft and crew. Flight numbers will also be changed to Air India’s codes, though planes and staff are expected to remain the same initially.
This marks the completion of Vistara’s merger with Air India, a process that began earlier this year after Tata Group acquired the debt-ridden carrier from the Indian government. The merger aims to consolidate Tata’s domestic airlines under the Air India brand, bringing syngergies through a larger fleet and wider network reach.
Customers who have already booked Vistara flights beyond November 11 will have their reservations automatically changed to Air India flights. The transition is taking place in a phased manner to ensure smooth travel experience for passengers. Both airlines have stated that customer service teams will be in regular communication regarding the change in branding and processes.
The merger aims to offer travelers more choice with over 200 aircraft post-consolidation, while building on Vistara’s high product standards and Air India’s historic brand legac. It is a critical part of the Tata Group’s long-term viability plan for Air India that envisages the combined entity as a leading global airline.
With Vistara closing operations on November 11, the Tata Group will achieve its goal of merging full service carrier Air India and Vistara to build a strong national player. The merged airline will look to strengthen its domestic monopoly while expanding internationally using its wide combined fleet.
