Vistara Flies its Final Flight

Indian airline Vistara today carried out the final flight under its own name and flight numbers as it completes a merger with national carrier Air India.

From Tuesday 12 November all Vistara flights will operate under Air India flight numbers, with the AI2xxx prefix.

For a time, Vistara’s aircraft will continue to wear the airline’s colours until consolidation and repainting occurs.

There were scenes of sadness and celebration across India as the final Vistara flights departed and landed, with staff and crew in tears.

Thank you for being part of this unforgettable journey and showering us with your #VistaraLove. We will forever cherish these memories.
Please follow @airindia for all the latest updates. pic.twitter.com/Dz1xjDNNIJ

— Vistara (@airvistara) November 11, 2024

Vistara’s social media channels have also been full of wistful posts about all the airline has achieved, as well as about its bright future going forward as a unified airline.

Final Flights

Photo (c) Kwok Ho Eddie Wong

The final domestic flight by Vistara was UK986 from Mumbai to Delhi, whilst the final international service was UK115 from Delhi to Singapore on Airbus A321neo VT-TVH. This aircraft will return to India as an Air India flight.

Flightradar24 showcased the final Vistara flight and the first merged Vistara-Air India flight airborne at the same time in this post:

As Vistara completes its merger into Air India the last Vistara call sign flight and first Air India call sign flight are in the air.

Last Vistara: https://t.co/61ME8KKlYF

First Air India: https://t.co/gAuaMNZTrJ pic.twitter.com/MYDtjL1GTC

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 11, 2024

A History of Vistara

Venkat Mangudi / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, launched operations in January 2015 with a mission to redefine India’s full-service airline experience. Operating under the IATA code UK, Vistara set itself apart with premium onboard services and a focus on customer satisfaction, quickly gaining a reputation for quality and reliability in the Indian aviation market. The airline initially operated an all-Airbus A320 fleet, gradually expanding to include the A321neo for regional routes and later adding Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul operations to destinations in Europe and Asia.

Throughout its relatively short existence, Vistara pioneered several firsts in Indian aviation, including the introduction of premium economy on domestic flights, advanced inflight entertainment systems, and modern cabin aesthetics, catering to both business and leisure travelers. By the mid-2020s, Vistara served over 30 destinations and had earned a loyal customer base and industry accolades for service excellence.

However, following the 2022 acquisition of Air India by the Tata Group, a consolidation plan led to the decision to merge Vistara with Air India, aiming to streamline operations and create a unified national carrier. As Vistara now prepares to cease independent operations, it leaves behind a legacy as one of India’s most beloved airlines, known for elevating standards and raising passenger expectations.

Vistara’s Fleet

Tamás Vékony [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)]

• 53x Airbus A320neo
• 6x Airbus A321neo
• 4x Airbus A321neoLR
• 7x Boeing 787-9

All aircraft are expected to be retained by Air India under the merged fleet, since all are common with the national carrier’s operations.