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!
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 transferred 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?
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