'Where sky isn't the limit, but just the beginning': Vistara bids goodbye today, with final flights before Air India merger

In a farewell post, Vistara wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “As the plane ascends, so do our dreams; let’s glide toward the future, where the sky isn’t the limit, but just the beginning.”

This merger will reduce the number of full-service airlines in India to just one, down from five over the past 17 years.

As part of the merger agreement, Singapore Airlines, which owns 49 percent of Vistara, will hold a 25.1 percent stake in Air India post-merger—marking another Indian airline with foreign ownership ceasing its independent operations following the liberalization of foreign direct investment policies.

Air India anticipates that around 115,000 passengers with Vistara bookings will fly with the integrated airline during the first month post-merger.

Vistara’s aircraft will operate under Air India’s brand and be identified by a unique four-digit Air India code beginning with “2” (e.g., Vistara’s UK 955 will become AI 2955), allowing passengers to easily recognize the flights on the Air India website from Nov. 12 onward.

While the branding will change, Vistara’s routes, schedules, in-flight experience, products, and services will remain consistent, operated by the same crew.

Air India has increased resources at various key locations across India to ensure a smooth transition, coordinating with airports to introduce new support measures, including help desks at main entry points in major cities and hubs.

Vistara was launched in 2015 following a policy shift by the Indian government under the UPA administration, which allowed foreign airlines to hold up to a 49 percent stake in domestic carriers.

This change paved the way for collaborations such as Jet Airways with Etihad and led to the entry of new players like Vistara and AirAsia India.

As India’s only full-service airline established in the past decade, Vistara introduced a premium travel experience to both domestic and international travellers.

Its high standard of service quickly won over passengers, establishing Vistara as a popular choice in the Indian and international markets.

The airline was jointly owned by the Tata Group with a 51 percent stake and Singapore Airlines holding the remaining 49 percent.

Since Vistara’s entry, India’s aviation sector has experienced numerous challenges.

Several airlines, including Kingfisher and Air Sahara (later known as JetLite), ceased operations, while Jet Airways halted its flights in 2019 after 25 years of service due to financial struggles and is now in liquidation proceedings.