Vistara said with airlines out of business, “the sky is not the limit…”

Today is the last day of Vistara! The airline will operate its last flights under its own brand on Monday, November 11, and then under Air India from tomorrow.

“As the plane rises, so do our dreams; let’s glide into a future where the sky is not the limit, but just the beginning,” the airline said in a post.

With Vistara’s collapse, the number of full-service airlines in India’s fast-growing aviation sector will be reduced from five to one in just over 17 years.

Additionally, the merger – in which Vistara’s 49% owner Singapore Airlines will hold 25.1% stake in Air India post-merger – will mark another co-ownership of an overseas airline following the liberalization of foreign direct investment Air India’s closing standards.

AI brings major changes

Air India is implementing several measures to ensure a seamless experience for customers, including deploying additional resources at key touchpoints in India and working closely with partner airports.

Air India said it expects about 115,000 passengers who booked pre-merger Vistara to travel on the unified Air India in the first month after the merger.

Post-merger, Vistara aircraft will operate under the Air India banner and will be identified by a unique four-digit Air India code starting with “2”. For example, Vistara flight UK 955 will be re-designated as AI 2955 so that customers can identify the flight when booking through the Air India website after November 12.

The routes and schedules currently operated by Vistara will remain unchanged, as will the onboard experience, products and services delivered by the same crew.

To facilitate this shift, Air India has strengthened its resources across multiple touchpoints in India, rolling out measures in coordination with partner airports such as setting up help desks at curbside entrances at hub and metro airports.

Other initiatives include customer support staff wearing signs that say “How can I help you?” Air India x Vistara branded T-shirts are available to assist and coordinate with airport security to direct passengers holding Vistara tickets to the nearest information desk or Air India staff. The ticket offices and check-in counters at Vistara Airport will be gradually transitioned to Air India facilities. The kiosk will display an advisory notice: “For Vistara flights with code AI2, please select Air India for check-in from November 12, 2024.”

At international airports, customer support staff wearing Air India x Vistara branded T-shirts will provide assistance and display directions and information near the check-in counters at relevant locations.

Customers contacting Vistara call centers will be automatically redirected to Air India representatives to enable a smooth transition, the statement added.