Published By: Sayan Paul

Vistara Entering "Final Stretch" Of Merger: Air India Chief Campbell Wilson Addresses Staff On Roadmap

Campbell Wilson, the chief of Air India, recently addressed employees on what lie ahead after the Vistara-Air India merger.

"Our teams are working closely to ensure that the transition is smooth and that our customers experience no disruption in service." - Campbell Wilson

Finally, the highly anticipated merger between Vistara and Air India is all set to fructify. Singapore Airlines (SIA) on Friday announced that it has received approval from the Indian government for foreign direct investment (FDI) as part of the proposed merger of Vistara with Air India. The company further added that "starting 3 September 2024, customers will, progressively, no longer be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after 12 November 2024." However, it will continue taking bookings and operating flights as usual till 11 November 2024.

This merger, which is expected to create one of the world’s largest airline groups, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. SIA — which owned 49% in Vistara and will get a 25.1% stake in the merged AI - said in a statement, "SIA and its partner Tata Sons aim to finalize the merger by the end of 2024. Upon completion, SIA will hold a 25.1% stake in the enlarged Air India Group. SIA and Tata Sons are firmly committed to supporting the growth and success of the Air India Group, which post-merger will have a significant presence in all key Indian airline market segments (full service, low-cost, international, and domestic). This merger will reinforce SIA’s multi-hub strategy, and underscore its long-standing commitment to India through a direct stake in this large and rapidly growing aviation market."

(Credit: Vistara)

After the announcement, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson addressed the employees on what lies ahead, answering several frequently asked questions. In this article, let's have a look at what he said.

Campbell Wilson's Words

Wilson confirmed that the flight numbers for Vistara flights on or after November 12 will change to Air India ones. However, "in nearly all cases the aircraft, schedule, and operating crew will be unchanged until early 2025."

He further added that from September 3, passengers who want to book flights departing on or after November 12 through Vistara's website will be redirected to Air India's site to complete the process. In his words, "All customers already booked on Vistara flights after 12th November will automatically have their reservations converted to Air India flight numbers; this will occur in phases during September, and customers will be individually informed when this occurs."

Moreover, he said that the date for moving aircraft and crew from Vistara's Air Operator Certificate to Air India has been set for November 12. "As we now embark on the final stretch of this long and complicated process, let's maintain the focus and effort to ensure that our collective customers and colleagues experience the smoothest of transitions.”

On the other hand, speaking about why this merger would be beneficial for passengers, Wilson shared in an interview, "The joint team looks forward to offering our guests an expanded network, additional flight options, an enhanced frequent flyer program, and the best of both antecedent airlines and are grateful for the support of our loyal customers through this next phase of building a world-class, world scale, global airline with an Indian heart.”

Vinod Kannan's Message To Customers

Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said in his recent statement, “We are immensely grateful to all our customers for their support and patronage over the last 10 years. As we progress further in our growth journey, we want to emphasize that this merger is about offering them more choice with a larger fleet and a wider network, while elevating the overall travel experience. Vistara and Air India are committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and hassle-free. We are excited about this new phase in our journey and look forward to welcoming our customers again soon – as Air India.”

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(Credit: Air India)

According to experts, this merger will soon reshape the aviation landscape both in India and also in the international arena.