In late 2021, plans were announced for Air India to be privatized. Specifically, Tata Group, which was also Air India’s initial owner when the company was first founded, has once again taken control of the airline. Tata Group also owned Indian carrier Vistara, and we’ve known all along that the plan was for the two airline brands to merge.
Several weeks ago, we learned about when this would happen. There’s now a major update, as today is a big day for Indian aviation… the Vistara brand is no more!
In this post:
Vistara is operating its last flight today
Vistara is operating its last flight today, November 11, 2024. Then as of November 12, 2024, all Vistara flights will operate under Air India branding. That means passengers will proceed to Air India check-in counters, flight attendants will refer to the airline as Air India, etc.
It’s interesting how the company will assign flight numbers to flights on former Vistara aircraft. Historically Vistara had the two letter code “UK,” while Air India had the two letter code “AI.” Vistara flights will start using the “AI” code, but the first number after that will be a “2.” In other words, what used to be flight UK027 will become flight AI2027.
It’s no longer possible to make bookings through Vistara’s website for travel on November 12, 2024, and beyond. Instead, customers are directed to Air India’s website to complete bookings. Those who already have bookings on Vistara for November 12 and beyond should receive an updated e-ticket, with a new ticket number. Meanwhile the PNR remains the same.
Vistara’s Club Vistara loyalty program will also be merged into Air India’s Flying Returns program as of November 12, 2024. All benefits, elite qualifying activity, etc., will also be transfered to the new program. The plan is for the program to eventually be rebranded as Maharaja Club, reflecting the carrier’s longtime mascot.
Suffice it to say that this transition is going to be a massive undertaking. Hopefully it all goes smoothly, but I’d expect there could be a bit of confusion and some hiccups for the first few days following the transition, given the scale of what’s happening.
The Vistara product will be maintained for some time
So, what will happen to the onboard experience on Vistara flights, once the Vistara brand is discontinued? Interestingly not much is expected to change, at least for the foreseeable future. The current Vistara soft product is expected to be maintained on former Vistara aircraft, so you’ll find the same meals, amenities, etc., as before.
Presumably at some point in the future, the product will be aligned between Air India and Vistara. However, it’s logical enough that this wouldn’t be updated overnight, given that Air India hasn’t even rolled out a new soft product to its entire fleet as of now.
Vistara has long been thought to have a superior product to Air India, so I imagine many will appreciate that they continue to have the ability to fly on former Vistara aircraft, many of which have a superior soft and hard product. Customers can also specifically book these flights, given the unique flight numbers.
For that matter, Vistara staff will continue to fly Vistara aircraft for the time being, though under a new contract.
Air India has come a long way, has a longer way to go
When Tata Group first announced plans to reinvent Air India, I was highly skeptical. However, I have been impressed by the amount of progress that has been made. Air India has placed a massive order for hundreds of new Airbus and Boeing jets, is introducing new interiors on long haul flights, and much, much more.
While a lot of progress has already been made, the reality is that for a vast majority of passengers, little has changed. Aside from a handful of newly acquired Airbus A350s, Air India long haul passengers are still dealing with the carrier’s outdated products, and not a single jet has been reconfigured with new interiors.
I realize you can’t reinvent an airline overnight, though it goes without saying that the progress has been gradual.
What’s interesting here is that even though Vistara is shortly being integrated into Air India, not much will change initially, aside from the name. Now, I think most Vistara loyalists and fans would consider that to be a good thing, since the airline already offers a great experience. Meanwhile those who fly Air India are probably wanting to see changes, especially on the carrier’s long haul routes.
It makes sense for Tata Group to take a slow and methodical approach to updating the experience, and I continue to be curious to see how this all plays out. At what point will Air India actually look like a materially different airline?
If you ask me, the most meaningful change will come when a majority of Air India’s long haul aircraft have new interiors, and no longer have among the worst long haul experience you’ll find on any airline.
Bottom line
As of November 12, 2024, the Vistara brand is being merged into the Air India brand. This is a major milestone in terms of Tata Group’s acquisition of Air India. I’m sure many Vistara customers won’t be happy about this, at least for the time being, given how much better the carrier’s reputation is than Air India’s.
That being said, the good news is that much of the Vistara experience will be maintained for some time, including crews continuing to work those flights, the Vistara soft product not changing, etc.
What do you make of Vistara being merged into Air India?
Didn’t get a chance to fly Vistara, but did get to see their last arrival into Heathrow Monday night, as I had drinks atop the Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal Two before a morning UA flight for myself.
in other global airline merger news, Avianca and Delta are in talks with the Argentinian government about buying Aerolineas Argentinas in a move that the Argentinian president apparently supports.
Normally I wouldn't want to help you derail a completely unrelated topic into something about Delta. But since Fat Gary is reporting on it already, it's only a matter of time before it shows up on this blog:
I doubt DL gives a rip about flying within Argentina, as that country's idiot leadership is moving toward cabotage (which would significantly undercut the value proposition of acquiring Aerolineas).....
....so I'm guessing Delta sees this...
Normally I wouldn't want to help you derail a completely unrelated topic into something about Delta. But since Fat Gary is reporting on it already, it's only a matter of time before it shows up on this blog:
I doubt DL gives a rip about flying within Argentina, as that country's idiot leadership is moving toward cabotage (which would significantly undercut the value proposition of acquiring Aerolineas).....
....so I'm guessing Delta sees this as a way to snap up some ultra-cheap A332s, then use those for immediate 763ER size replacements for the near term. Anything else is gravy.
who is fat gary
If you follow airline blogs, I think you can figure it out.
Millei supports a lot of idiotic polices, but what does that have to do with an airline on basically the opposite side of the world?
A very sad day in Indian aviation - the best airline the country had.
Better than 9W too? Still miss those days
Brilliant! Let's take a brand with something going for it and merge it with a brand that has a dogshit reputation.
Exactly my sentiments!
I've been thinking since day 1 that Vistara's identity should have been kept, and not Air India's. 1. Reputation, and 2. Vistara is associated with Tata's brand as they built it from the ground up, even if Tata also founded Air India (which the government later took over).
You guys seem not to get it as much.
In India, Vistara might be a more known airline. But enter other markets like US, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Australia and the rest Air India is the brand.
Vistara's brand identity, though good is still small relative to Air India huge coverage. It's easier for someone not into aviation as much as you to search for flights on Air India than Vistara.
Most Indians that...
You guys seem not to get it as much.
In India, Vistara might be a more known airline. But enter other markets like US, Canada, South Africa, Kenya, Australia and the rest Air India is the brand.
Vistara's brand identity, though good is still small relative to Air India huge coverage. It's easier for someone not into aviation as much as you to search for flights on Air India than Vistara.
Most Indians that don't fancy aviation well enough probably haven't heard of Vistara.
I’ve asked for this so many times before under another ID, but somehow I knew you never would fly Vistara. After all, what’s a little old Indian airline — even though a premium one like this — in front of global stalwarts like SQ, QR, JAL and EVA, right?
Throughout your adventures to Bolivia, Korea and now Egypt, I’d been hoping in my heart of hearts that you *might* take the plunge, but no. I...
I’ve asked for this so many times before under another ID, but somehow I knew you never would fly Vistara. After all, what’s a little old Indian airline — even though a premium one like this — in front of global stalwarts like SQ, QR, JAL and EVA, right?
Throughout your adventures to Bolivia, Korea and now Egypt, I’d been hoping in my heart of hearts that you *might* take the plunge, but no. I guess ITA, Starlux and JetBlue (maybe even Korean Air) have better A321neos than Vistara which attracted you towards them. Now’s the time for me to finally say: you really let me down, Lucky!
Still, I’m really glad that even though you didn’t fly Vistara when it was around, you’ve never failed to cover every single development surrounding both Vistara and the Air India transformation as a whole!
I am getting a bit of a disappointment from your end but yeah I do share a bit on you with this. I would have really liked him to try Vistara, since they did operate routes from European airports that Lucky frequented.
But well it is also nice to see that he did cover the development of Vistara and Air India. I hope he does give AI a proper chance as they are now offering...
I am getting a bit of a disappointment from your end but yeah I do share a bit on you with this. I would have really liked him to try Vistara, since they did operate routes from European airports that Lucky frequented.
But well it is also nice to see that he did cover the development of Vistara and Air India. I hope he does give AI a proper chance as they are now offering US flights on the A350 and he could still try Vistara, or at least the hard product on the domestic routes. Delhi - Mumbai would be a choice.
@Proximanova
Oh man, did you forget about your own wisdom?
You can always fly an Air India's old 777 or A321ceo or something of that kind and "visualise yourself flying Vistara 787 or Vistara A321neo or something of that kind ;)!".
Maybe shouldn't have forced Ben to divert, made him to have an awful experience and mocked him if...
@Proximanova
Oh man, did you forget about your own wisdom?
You can always fly an Air India's old 777 or A321ceo or something of that kind and "visualise yourself flying Vistara 787 or Vistara A321neo or something of that kind ;)!".
Maybe shouldn't have forced Ben to divert, made him to have an awful experience and mocked him if you wanted Ben to do what you wanted him to do.
Hopefully you learned a lesson here.
@Proximanova
Here we go again with classic Proximanova (or VT-CIE) anti-Korea.
Never misses a chance to denounce the peninsula.
Obviously, you're gonna be thinking that Vistara A321neos are better than KE A321neos, but in reality that ain't true.
Lack of XL overhead bins, very tight economy cabin and smaller screens, etc.
Also, Vistara's hit or miss crew.
What's up with your Beef with Korea?
"so many times before under another ID,"
Why would you have so many ID?
Does the old one suck?
What happened to all the crap about "my username is an ordinary, no-frills Air India A320neo, and not a luxurious A380 or something, because international travel can sometimes consist of very non-glamorous products and it’s your choice to accept them or not."
You can't even accept and respect yourself. You deserve all the crap.
"so many times before under another ID,"
Why would you have so many ID?
Does the old one suck?
What happened to all the crap about "my username is an ordinary, no-frills Air India A320neo, and not a luxurious A380 or something, because international travel can sometimes consist of very non-glamorous products and it’s your choice to accept them or not."
You can't even accept and respect yourself. You deserve all the crap.
Do you realize the name doesn't make you suck, you make yourself suck.
Might I suggest VT-SUX or ProXUXnova next time.
And let's not start on how dare you think Ben let you down.
Ben let everyone down except you when he flew COPA 737 instead of Korean 787.
I guess mocking Ben on how he should "visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something of that kind! ;)" when he was following your demand is going to make you look like a tough guy. Not even close.
Peace.
Wouldn’t it have been fun if instead of reviewing ET you flew Vistara to London? Like a few days ago? I’d have loved to read your review on that even though.
But there’s still a chance since FRA-DEL will be served twice daily on Vistara aircraft for now.