New Delhi: The final obstacle to Vistaras merger with Air India has been cleared, with the recent approval for Singapore Airlines to acquire a 25.1% stake in Air India. This decision also paves the way for Air India to become the parent company of Air India Express. Consequently, Vistara will merge into Air India, and AIX Connect (formerly known as AirAsia India) will be integrated into Air India Express. With this development, Talace Pvt. Ltd., an entity created by Tata Sons to bid for Air India, will no longer be involved in the process.Vistara ceases operations on November 12, 2024Vistara will officially cease operations as a distinct entity on November 12, 2024. Starting September 3, 2024, the airline will stop accepting bookings for flights beyond this date. This transition is likely to cause some anxiety among passengers who have already booked or planned to book flights during the busy December period. In an industry where flight schedules often align with IATA seasons, Vistara and Air India are scheduling this major change to follow the peak Diwali season.The airline has begun informing both passengers and employees about the upcoming changes. Communication has been disseminated through social media and direct emails to loyalty members and passengers. If you are a frequent flyer with Vistara, heres what you need to know about the transition:Is Vistara shutting downVistara will indeed cease to exist under its current brand name. The airline will merge with Air India, integrating its planes, employees, and routes into Air India. However, because aircraft rebranding cannot happen overnight, Vistaras planes will continue to display the Vistara livery until the changes are fully implemented. The IATA code “UK” used by Vistara will be retired.Last flight and transition detailsVistaras final flight will take place on November 11, 2024. The process of transferring aircraft and personnel will commence before this date, with the last flight operating on November 11. Following this, the Vistara brand, IATA code, and operations will be officially retired.Booking flights beyond November 12If you need to book flights with Vistara for dates beyond November 12, 2024, you will need to make these arrangements through Air Indias website starting September 3, 2024. Vistaras flights will be operated under Air India flight numbers with an “AI” prefix. The crew members from Vistara will continue to operate these flights until early 2025, although the service levels and meals will adhere to Air Indias policies.Impact on loyalty membersVistara is merging its loyalty program, Club Vistara, with Air Indias loyalty program, Flying Returns. Loyalty members are encouraged to sign up for this merger, which will facilitate a one-to-one transfer of points from Club Vistara to Flying Returns.Handling existing bookingsPassengers with existing Vistara bookings will not face disruptions. Those travelling with Vistara before November 12 may see changes in flight details, which the airline will communicate. For flights scheduled after this date, passengers should be prepared for alterations and ensure their contact details are updated with the airline to receive timely information.Service impact for existing bookingsCurrently, Vistara flights scheduled to operate until early 2025 will continue with the same aircraft and crew. However, as the integration progresses, there might be changes due to operational necessities, aircraft groundings, or rebranding. This could affect passengers booked in Premium Economy, as Air India has fewer Premium Economy seats compared to Vistara.Experiencing Vistara one last timeVistara has developed a dedicated following over the years. Passengers interested in experiencing Vistara before its integration with Air India should book flights as soon as possible. As the switchover to Air India is a gradual process, there may be variations in service as aircraft and crew are transitioned. Booking soon ensures that you experience Vistaras service before the full merger is completed.
