Vistara merged with Air India marks 100 days of milestone, making it India’s only full-service airline. This merger was important for Tata Group, which owns Air India. Singapore Airlines now owns 25.1% of the new Air India, making it a key partner.

When Tata took over Air India in 2022, the airline was struggling. Vistara and AirAsia India were also losing money. While profits are still a challenge, the merged airline is now stronger and can compete better with IndiGo in India and expand internationally.

Changes in the First 100 Days:

1. Vistara’s Name Fades AwayAir India first said that Vistara’s planes and staff would stay the same until 2025. But changes started immediately. Some flights shifted to Air India planes, and over time, more Vistara flights changed to match Air India’s seating style.

2. Smooth TransitionEven though this was a big change, it happened smoothly. From midnight of the merger, Vistara officially stopped existing, and Air India took over. Airports did not face confusion, flights were on time, and even loyalty program members had no issues.

3. More Flights on Busy RoutesAir India adjusted flight schedules on important routes like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Bangalore, and Mumbai-Hyderabad. The goal was to give passengers better timing choices. All flights now have three seating classes for business travelers.

4. Branding Changes Still OngoingAir India started giving crew new uniforms, but changes at airports are still in progress. Many places still show Vistara’s name. Repainting the planes is taking time, and only Air India’s A350 planes have the new look so far.

5. Delhi Becomes an International HubAfter the merger, Air India moved many international flights from Mumbai to Delhi. This was done to make Delhi a major hub. With Vistara’s bigger planes, Air India increased flights to Paris and Frankfurt, making travel easier to Southeast Asia and Australia.

6. Drop in Domestic Market ShareEven after merging, Air India’s share in the Indian market dropped in the first month. This was surprising because India had the highest domestic air traffic ever. The airline will need time to improve its services and attract more passengers.

7. Vistara’s Name Still PopularEven though Vistara is gone, passengers still remember it fondly. Many travelers post on social media about their experiences with Vistara. Since repainting planes takes time, its branding can still be seen.

8. Delayed Aircraft UpgradesAir India planned to upgrade its older planes, but the process has been delayed. The airline has blamed supply issues. The full upgrade is now expected by 2026. Even smaller planes, which were supposed to be upgraded in December, are still unchanged.

9. Challenges in International Expansion: Right now, Air India has an advantage on North American routes because U.S. airlines cannot fly over Russia. However, if the Russia-Ukraine conflict ends and Russian airspace reopens, Air India will face more competition from American and other international airlines.

The first 100 days of this merger have brought many changes. Air India has made good progress, but it still has a long way to go. The airline needs to improve its services, fully integrate Vistara, and win back more passengers.