NEW DELHI: Air India Express flights will now use parent Air India’s AI code, shedding its own IX. Vistara flights will also soon use this code, shedding its UK. Erstwhile AirAsia India already uses AI code.
The Tata Group is merging erstwhile AirAsia India into AI Express to form a big budget carrier. And Vistara is being merged into AI to form a big full service airline — something causing tremendous heartburn in employees of the former.
‘Putting AI code on AI Ex flights; next on Vistara:’ MD Wilson
“Air India now places the ‘AI’ code on Air India Express (IX) operated flights, allowing AIX to benefit from AI’s global sales and distribution, AI to leverage nine new destinations and hundreds of extra frequencies operated by AIX, and customers to enjoy the convenience of through-checkin and baggage tagging. This follows the earlier rollout of AI code on I5 flights and is a precursor to the placement of the AI code on Vistara flights too,” AI MD-CEO Campbell Wilson on Friday said.
Both the mergers have to be completed within this calendar year. Bringing different work cultures of different airlines has never been easy. India itself has seen erstwhile Indian Airlines merging into erstwhile Air India; Sahara into Jet and Deccan into Kingfisher with disastrous results, especially for promoters of the last two Naresh Goyal and Vijay Mallya. They could not handle one airline merger.
The Tatas are simultaneously handling two mergers of virtually five airlines — erstwhile AI & IA, Vistara, erstwhile AirAsia India and Air India Express. “For the sake of Indian aviation it is crucial Tatas are successful in this task. Given the size of its market, India needs at least 2-3 big airlines (US has three) — IndiGo, Tata Group airlines and 1-2 more solid players that emerge over time,” said a senior pilot.
IndiGo, Tata Group and Akasa have ordered over 1,100 aircraft worth $140 billion at list price between Feb 2023 and this January. Accordingly mega airports are being developed in India by the private and public sector.