Beginning Sept 3, prospects will “progressively not be capable to make bookings with Vistara for journey on or after Nov 12, 2024.All our flights thereafter can be operated by AI and bookings for them can be redirected to Air India’s web site from ours… Our operations proceed as typical until Nov 11, 2024,” Vistara mentioned in an inner notice to workers on Friday. Vistara frequent flyer miles are being merged into the AI programme.
Clients already booked on Vistara flights after Nov 12 could have their reservations transformed to AI flight numbers. “…It will happen in phases throughout Sept, and prospects can be individually knowledgeable when this happens… although in almost all circumstances the plane, schedule and working crew can be unchanged till early 2025,” AI CEO Campbell Wilson mentioned in electronic mail to workers on Friday.
The merger date was communicated quickly after India accepted SIA’s FDI. In a press release, SIA, which owned 49% in Vistara, mentioned on Friday: “SIA and Tata Sons are firmly dedicated to supporting the expansion and success of AI Group, which post-merger could have a big presence in all key Indian airline market segments (full service, low-cost, worldwide, and home). This merger will reinforce SIA’s multi-hub technique and underscore its long-standing dedication to India by a direct stake on this massive and quickly rising aviation market,” the assertion added.
Whereas welcoming Vistara workers into the AI fold, Wilson urged them and AI staffers to “be sure that our collective prospects and colleagues expertise the smoothest of transitions.”
Wilson mentioned: “The joint staff appears ahead to providing our visitors an expanded community, further flight choices an enhanced frequent flyer programme… grateful for the assist of our loyal prospects by this subsequent part of constructing a world class, world scale, international airline with an Indian coronary heart.”
