Air India Group achieved a significant milestone today, officially completing the merger between Air India and Vistara, forming a consolidated full-service airline with extensive domestic and international reach. This merger follows closely on the heels of the October 1 integration of Air India Express with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), creating a unified low-cost entity.
The consolidation, part of Tata Group’s ambitious five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI, repositions Air India as a leading aviation brand by combining the resources and expertise of its former four airlines into two main entities. With a combined fleet of 300 aircraft, Air India Group now operates over 8,300 weekly flights across 312 routes, reaching more than 100 destinations worldwide.
A Unified Full-Service Airline with Global Reach
The newly merged full-service Air India now offers more than 5,600 weekly flights, connecting over 90 destinations globally with a robust fleet of 208 aircraft. This expansion enables the airline to serve over 120,000 passengers daily while offering enhanced connectivity through over 75 international codeshare and interline partnerships. Meanwhile, Air India Express, the Group’s low-cost entity, operates 2,700 flights per week with a fleet of 90 aircraft, covering more than 45 destinations.
Seamless Transition and Enhanced Customer Experience
To ensure a smooth transition, more than 6,000 Vistara employees have been integrated into Air India’s structure, and over 140 IT systems have been aligned. Approximately 270,000 customer bookings and 4.5 million Club Vistara loyalty accounts were transferred to Air India’s recently redesigned loyalty program, now called Maharaja Club.
Former Vistara flights will continue offering the Vistara service experience and will be identified by a unique four-digit flight code beginning with the digit “2.” For example, the previous flight number “UK 955” will now be displayed as “AI 2955.”
Stakeholder Support and Strategic Expansion
The merger received crucial support from India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and various international aviation authorities. The unification process coincides with significant growth initiatives, including a USD 400 million interior retrofit program for existing aircraft and a 12-bay maintenance base set to open in early 2026. The transformation also includes hiring over 9,000 new employees and establishing a state-of-the-art training center in India.
Strategic Collaboration with Singapore Airlines
Post-merger, Singapore Airlines, a 49% stakeholder in Vistara, now holds a 25.1% stake in the combined Air India Group. This collaboration reflects Air India’s enhanced global ambitions and solidifies its commitment to becoming a leading global carrier.
A New Era for Air India Group
Air India’s Managing Director and CEO, Campbell Wilson, praised the combined efforts of teams across the four airlines, stating, “The merger of Air India and Vistara completes the consolidation and restructuring phase of our post-privatisation journey. This momentous achievement is due to the hard work and dedication of our staff and the invaluable support of our stakeholders. We are committed to creating a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.”
As part of the Tata Group’s Vihaan.AI transformation program, Air India now focuses on the “Climb” phase, where the priority shifts to operational excellence and enhancing customer experience.
