First Air India-Vistara Combined Flight Departs Doha for Mumbai Following Merger
In a significant milestone for India’s aviation sector, the newly integrated Air India-Vistara entity took to the skies with its first flight on Monday night. The flight, AI2286, departed Doha at 10:07 PM local time and is scheduled to land in Mumbai early Tuesday morning. This flight is notable not only as the first operation of the merged airline but also as the first international operation conducted by the entity after the merger of the two airlines.
In a significant milestone for India’s aviation sector, the newly integrated Air India-Vistara entity took to the skies with its first flight on Monday night. The flight, AI2286, departed Doha at 10:07 PM local time and is scheduled to land in Mumbai early Tuesday morning. This flight is notable not only as the first operation of the merged airline but also as the first international operation conducted by the entity after the merger of the two airlines.
The integration of Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, with Air India marks a major consolidation in India’s civil aviation sector. Post-merger, Singapore Airlines retains a 25.1% stake in the new Air India-Vistara entity.
The flight AI2286, which lasted for nearly three hours, symbolizes the beginning of the transition phase for both airlines. Vistara, known for its premium services, has now officially wrapped up its independent operations. The Air India-Vistara merger is expected to streamline flight operations and improve connectivity for passengers.
Additionally, the first scheduled domestic flight under the integrated Air India-Vistara banner, AI2984, took off from Mumbai to Delhi at 1:30 AM on Tuesday, operating with an A320 aircraft. This marks the start of Air India’s new unified fleet operations across both domestic and international routes.
To make the transition seamless for passengers, Air India has introduced a new flight code for Vistara-operated flights under the merged entity, denoted as ‘AI2XXX’. This code will help passengers identify Vistara flights when booking their tickets for travel after the merger.
In a statement, Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson emphasized that cross-functional teams from both airlines had been working diligently for months to ensure a smooth transition of aircraft, flight crews, ground colleagues, and most importantly, the airline’s customers.
The merger comes after an announcement in November 2022 that from September 2024 onwards, passengers will no longer be able to book flights with Vistara for travel after November 12, 2024. The gradual integration is seen as a step towards strengthening the Tata Group’s position in the competitive Indian aviation market.
As the aviation industry watches closely, the successful integration of Air India and Vistara is expected to bring a stronger, more unified airline capable of competing on a global scale, offering improved services to passengers, and boosting the overall aviation experience.
Sources By Agencies
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