New Delhi 30 :- Vistara will operationally merge into the Tata group’s flagship airline Air India on November 11, drawing curtains on the decade-old brand that made a mark for its product and service quality as India’s foremost full-service carrier.
The wheels for the merger were set in motion in 2022 after the Tata group acquired Air India from the government.
“Starting 03 September 2024, customers will, progressively, no longer be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after 12 November 2024. All Vistara aircraft thereafter will be operated by Air India and bookings for the routes operated by these aircraft will be redirected to Air India’s website. Vistara will continue to take bookings and operate flights as usual till 11 November 2024,” Vistara said in a statement Friday.
“As the merger process moves ahead, regular updates will be shared with customers on the websites and social media channels of Vistara and Air India, and via e-mail. This includes information on web check-in, lounge access, ancillary services, and all other possible touchpoints. All efforts will be made by the dedicated teams across both airlines to ensure a seamless transition,” the airline said.
The announcement came close on the heels of the government approving Singapore Airlines’s investment into the merged carrier. As a joint venture partner in Vistara, Singapore Airlines holds 49 per cent stake in the airline and will have 25.1 per cent stake in the enlarged Air India after the merger. The Indian government’s approval to Singapore Airline’s Rs 2,059-crore investment in the merged airline was the final hurdle before the merger.
“Air India welcomes the Union Cabinet’s approval for the foreign direct investment by Singapore Airlines in Air India. This is an important milestone that facilitates the merger process between Vistara and Air India, and the broader transformation of the Air India Group,” Air India said in a statement.
“We are immensely grateful to all our customers for their support and patronage over the last 10 years. As we progress further in our growth journey, we want to emphasize that this merger is about offering them more choice with a larger fleet and a wider network, while elevating the overall travel experience. Vistara and Air India are committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and hassle-free. We are excited about this new phase in our journey and look forward to welcoming our customers again soon – as Air India,” said Vistara’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Vinod Kannan.
For Vistara flights on or after November 12, the flight numbers will change to those of Air India, even though in nearly all cases the aircraft, schedule and operating crew will be unchanged until early 2025. All customers already booked on Vistara flights after November 12 will automatically have their reservations converted to Air India flight numbers. This will occur in phases during September, and customers will be individually informed when this occurs.
“For our Vistara colleagues, the HR (human resources) teams are working on the transfer of those who have not already been seconded into Air India. As with those who have already joined, we look forward to welcoming our new Air Indians, helping them feel at home, and to having their assistance in catalysing and accelerating the new Air India,” Air India’s CEO Campbell Wilson said in an internal communication to Air India employees.
Kannan, too, shared the news with Vistara employees in an internal communication and thanked them for their contribution to Vistara’s growth. Kannan, who is also the chief integration officer for the merger, told Vistara employees about the merger roadmap over the coming weeks and updated them on staff migration and harmonization activities. Kannan also tried to dispel fears among Vistara employees, saying that the merger is the “beginning of an exciting new chapter” in the airline’s growth story that will provide “numerous opportunities” to all employees.
Apart from merging Air India and Vistara, the Tata group is also in the process of merging its budget carriers Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India). Once both the mergers are complete, the Air India group will have a full-service carrier Air India and a low-cost airline Air India Express. The consolidation is a critical part of Air India’s transformation programme Vihaan.Ai, that seeks to build Air India into an airline of global repute.(AGENCIES)
