In a move that marks the end of an era for India’s skies, Vistara, the full-service airline that won hearts with its premium service, will operate its final flights today before merging with Air India. The merger, a strategic decision by the Tata Group, brings together two giants of Indian aviation and shifts the landscape, with Air India becoming the country’s sole full-service carrier.
The merger follows a strategic move by the Tata Group to streamline their airline business. Vistara, which began as a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will now be part of a consolidated Air India entity, in which Singapore Airlines will retain a 25.1% stake.
For Vistara’s loyal customer base, the merger brings changes in branding but promises to maintain the 'Vistara experience' as it shifts to Air India.
Over 115,000 passengers who hold Vistara tickets for flights scheduled after today will now be flying under the Air India name. Although the carrier’s branding will change, the group assures that the overall service and onboard experience will be largely unchanged.
To aid passengers during this transition, Vistara has set up help desks at airports. Passengers can get information about their flights, check-in procedures, and other services. At international airports, there will be new signage to guide passengers to the correct check-in areas for Air India. The Vistara customer contact centre will also now route calls to Air India’s representatives to help travellers with any inquiries.
For those accustomed to Vistara's flight codes, there will be a noticeable change. Vistara flights will now use Air India flight codes, starting with '2.' For example, a Vistara flight previously designated as UK 955 will now operate under the code AI 2955.
Vistara’s loyalty programme members will be smoothly transitioned to Air India’s loyalty programme, giving customers access to Air India’s broader network and benefits.
Vistara was born in 2015 after the Indian government, under the UPA administration, allowed foreign airlines to acquire up to 49% in domestic airlines. This policy change led to partnerships such as Jet Airways with Etihad and the formation of new players, including Vistara and AirAsia India.
Vistara was India’s only full-service airline to emerge in the past decade, bringing a premium flying experience to domestic and international travellers. Known for its quality of service, Vistara quickly became popular among passengers, setting a high standard in both domestic and international markets. Tata Group held a 51% stake in Vistara, while Singapore Airlines owned the remaining 49%.
Since Vistara’s launch, India’s airline industry has seen several ups and downs. Several airlines, including Kingfisher and Air Sahara (which was later rebranded as JetLite), ceased operations, while Jet Airways grounded flights in 2019 after 25 years due to financial difficulties and is now facing liquidation.
