Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines (SIA) celebrated a monumental moment in Indian aviation with a symbolic ceremony marking the successful merger of Air India and Vistara. Held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, the ceremony underscored the strengthening of their longstanding partnership, which has now evolved into a more significant collaboration within the Air India Group.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, and Mr. Goh Choon Phong, CEO of Singapore Airlines, alongside senior management and employees from Tata, SIA, Air India, and Vistara. The merger, a key development under the ongoing Vihaan.AI transformation program, aims to consolidate four airlines—Air India, Vistara, and their respective partners—into a unified group, comprising both full-service and low-cost carriers. This shift strengthens the Air India Group’s presence across domestic and international markets, ultimately improving operational efficiency, service quality, and customer experience.
The merger creates an Air India Group with a combined fleet of 300 aircraft, serving 55 domestic and 48 international destinations. The group now operates 312 routes with 8,300 weekly flights, and customers can access a broader network with over 800 destinations through codeshare and interline partnerships. The expanded airline group is poised to provide a more seamless travel experience, backed by a workforce of over 30,000 employees.
Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran remarked, “It has been a little over two and a half years since the homecoming of Air India to Tata Group. This merger is an important milestone in our mission to transform Air India into a world-class global airline. Singapore Airlines continues to be our strategic partner, and we welcome them into the Air India family.”
Mr. Goh Choon Phong expressed his excitement about the merger, emphasizing its significance for both the Indian and global aviation sectors. “This merger marks a pivotal moment for Indian aviation,” he stated. “We look forward to working closely with Tata Sons and supporting the transformation of Air India Group, helping restore its leading position in the Indian market. Our collaboration will offer better value and more options for customers traveling between India and Singapore, as well as beyond.”
The merger reinforces Singapore Airlines’ long-term commitment to India, one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. As the Air India Group grows in strength, both Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines are poised to play key roles in shaping the future of Indian aviation, with a shared goal of building a globally competitive airline that Indian passengers can be proud of.
Through this merger, the combined strength of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines will significantly impact India’s aviation industry, improving connectivity, elevating passenger experience, and positioning Air India as a leader on the global stage. As part of the Vihaan.AI transformation, this move marks the beginning of a new era for Indian aviation, one that will bring a more robust and competitive airline group to the world’s aviation network.
