Air India and Vistara Merger: New Flight Codes and Enhanced Services
On October 18, Air India announced that following the merger with Vistara, Vistara aircraft will be operated by Air India. These flights will have a special four-digit code starting with ‘2’. For example, flight UK 955 will become AI 2955. This change will be effective from November 12, 2024, and will help customers identify these flights on Air India’s website.
The merger will not affect the routes, schedules, or the in-flight experience of Vistara, which includes the same menu, cutlery, and crew. Club Vistara members will be transferred to Air India’s Flying Returns program, which will be rebranded as ‘Maharaja Club’.
Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will officially merge with Air India on November 12, 2024. Meanwhile, Air India is upgrading its narrowbody fleet with new aircraft and retrofitting older ones. Vistara’s catering services will also be available on Air India flights.
Air India’s widebody fleet has been enhanced with six new A350 aircraft, now flying between Delhi and London, and soon to New York. The airline is refurbishing 27 narrowbody aircraft, with completion expected by mid-2025.
A multi-media campaign highlights the benefits of the unified Air India, offering connections to over 90 domestic and international destinations, and more than 800 destinations through codeshare and interline partners.
Doubts Revealed
Air India -: Air India is one of the largest airlines in India, known for its Maharaja mascot and providing both domestic and international flights.
Vistara -: Vistara is an Indian airline that was a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, known for its premium services.
Merger -: A merger is when two companies combine to become one. In this case, Air India and Vistara are joining together to operate as a single airline.
Flight Codes -: Flight codes are unique numbers assigned to each flight. They help passengers and airlines identify specific flights.
Club Vistara -: Club Vistara is a loyalty program for Vistara passengers, where members earn points for flying and can redeem them for rewards.
Flying Returns -: Flying Returns is Air India’s frequent flyer program, where passengers earn points for flying and can use them for benefits like free flights.
Maharaja Club -: Maharaja Club is the new name for Air India’s frequent flyer program after the merger with Vistara, offering rewards and benefits to loyal passengers.
A350 aircraft -: The A350 is a modern, long-range aircraft made by Airbus, known for its fuel efficiency and comfort, used for international flights.
Narrowbody aircraft -: Narrowbody aircraft are smaller planes with a single aisle, used for shorter domestic flights within a country.
