Farewell Vistara: Emotional Tributes Pour In as Airline Takes Its Final Flight

In a major shift for Indian aviation, Vistara will operate its last flight under its own brand on Monday, November 11. Starting November 12, Vistara’s operations will integrate with Air India, effectively retiring the Vistara brand and leading to a more consolidated market with fewer full-service carriers.

This merger, which has stirred emotional responses from loyal customers on social media, will reduce the number of full-service airlines in India from five to one over the span of 17 years. Through this merger, Singapore Airlines will acquire a 25.1% stake in Air India, further strengthening the international partnership in India’s aviation landscape.

For over 17 years, India’s skies hosted a variety of full-service airlines, beginning with the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India in 2007. However, several of these carriers gradually exited the market. Kingfisher Airlines, for example, ceased operations in 2012, while Air Sahara, acquired by Jet Airways and rebranded as JetLite, ended with Jet Airways’ closure in 2019.

Vistara’s consolidation with Air India symbolizes the end of an era, reducing the diversity of full-service carriers and altering the competitive landscape in Indian aviation.