The Indian aviation landscape is set to change as Vistara operates its last flights today before merging with Air India. This merger signals the end of an era for Vistara and leaves Air India as the sole full-service airline in India’s skies, aiming to strengthen the presence and legacy of Tata Group in Indian aviation.
Vistara began operations in January 2015 as a joint venture between Tata Group, holding a 51% stake, and Singapore Airlines, which holds the remaining 49%. With the merger, Singapore Airlines will retain a 25.1% stake in the combined airline entity, as Air India takes over Vistara’s routes, resources, and commitment to service quality. The combined airline is expected to streamline operations under the Air India brand while promising passengers that the celebrated Vistara experience will remain unchanged.
This merger will affect over 115,000 passengers in the first month alone. The transition is carefully planned to ensure minimal disruption, with flight codes shifting from Vistara’s ‘UK’ to Air India’s ‘AI.’ For example, Vistara’s UK 955 will now become AI 2955.
To ease the process, dedicated help desks are being set up at airports, with international terminals adding signage to guide passengers to the correct check-in counters.
