The first integrated Air India-Vistara flight took off from Doha to Mumbai on Monday night, marking the new entity’s debut international operation after Vistara concluded its final day of independent operations. The flight, designated AI2286, departed Doha at approximately 10:07 p.m. local time and is expected to arrive in Mumbai early Tuesday.
Despite Vistara ceasing operations from November 12, its aircraft, routes, and crew will continue to function as before until at least March 2025, according to airline officials. Domestically, the first Air India-Vistara flight, AI2984, took off from Mumbai to Delhi at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, operated by an A320 aircraft.
Post-merger, Vistara flights operated by Air India will carry the code ‘AI2XXX’ for easy identification during booking. This consolidation, combining two Tata Group airlines, marks a significant step in India’s civil aviation industry. Vistara, a Tata Group and Singapore Airlines joint venture, will see Singapore Airlines retain a 25.1% stake in the merged entity.
Since November 2022, Air India and Vistara teams have collaborated on integrating operations, from aircraft and crews to customer experiences, to ensure a smooth transition, as noted by Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson.
