Ratan Tata’s dream come true! AI-Vistara merger becomes reality, now Tata group will have these many planes in their fleet

The successful completion of Tata Group's Air India Vistara merger will challenge competitors both domestically and internationally, as Tata aims to elevate the Air India brand to new heights.

Air India on Tuesday completed the Vistara merger to create an integrated airline, partly owned by Singapore Airlines, that will be flying over 1,20,000 passengers daily and connect more than 90 destinations.

The completion of the much-awaited amalgamation, which was announced in November 2022, comes within six weeks of the integration of Air India Express and AIX Connect. The two mergers have created a full service carrier and a low-cost carrier of scale for the Tata Group, which is seeking to establish a “world class global aviation company with an Indian heart”.

Earlier in the day, the nearly 10-year-old Vistara — a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines — flew into the sunset and its last flight was from Delhi to Singapore.

Ratan Tata led Tata Sons, the parent company of Air India, had advised the airline’s management to handle the upcoming merger with Vistara carefully in order to maintain Vistara’s loyal customer base. The merger process was ongoing when the late businessman was alive and was involved in key decisions related to the merger.

Air India-Vistara First Flight

The first flight of the integrated Air India-Vistara entity took off for Mumbai from Doha on Monday night. The flight operating with the code ‘AI2286’ departed Doha at around 10. 07 pm local time and landed in Mumbai early on Tuesday morning. It is also the first international flight of the merged entity.

Tata Group’s Mega Merger

The completion of Tata Group’s mega merger in India’s aviation sector has brought significant changes, establishing the conglomerate as a dominant force in the industry. The merger has positioned Tata-owned Air India as the largest international carrier and the second-largest domestic carrier in the country, dramatically altering the business landscape of Indian aviation.

Air India Group: A New Aviation Giant

Following the merger, the newly consolidated Air India Group has a fleet of 300 aircraft, serving a total of 103 destinations 55 domestic and 48 international. The group’s extensive network covers 312 routes, split between 160 domestic and 152 international routes.

• Total weekly flights: Around 8,500
• Fleet composition: Boeing 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs, 787-8s, 787-9s, A320 family planes, and A350s

Air India Group’s Weekly Flight Operations

Air India Group now operates approximately 8,500 flights per week, serving both domestic and international routes. This expanded operation underscores the group’s enhanced capacity and reach in the competitive aviation market. Total destinations will be 91, total routes will be 174 and weekly flights will be around 5,600.

Air India and Vistara Merger

As part of the merger, Tata Group merged full-service carrier Vistara with Air India. This merger has expanded Air India’s fleet to include 67 wide-body aircraft, with 7 planes contributed by Vistara. The combined entity is now better equipped to handle both long-haul international routes and premium domestic services.

Fleet Details Post-Merger:

• Air India’s fleet: 80 narrow-body and 60 wide-body planes
• Vistara’s fleet: 63 narrow-body and 7 wide-body planes
• Air India Express fleet: 90 narrow-body planes

Market Share and Future Expansion

As of September, the combined market share of Air India, Vistara, and AIX Connect in the domestic sector stood at a little over 29%, according to the India TV report. The group has ambitious expansion plans, with more aircraft expected to be inducted in the coming months to further strengthen its market presence.