TBM Staff - Mumbai
Singapore Airlines (SIA) remains a key strategic partner for Tata Sons in Air India, according to Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. This announcement came during a ceremony marking the successful merger of Vistara into Air India. Vistara, previously a joint venture between Tata Sons (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%), has now fully merged into Air India, which is entirely owned by Tata Sons. Following the merger, Tata Sons holds a 74.9% stake in Air India, with Singapore Airlines retaining a 25.1% stake.
Goh Choon Phong, CEO, Singapore Airlines, also attended the ceremony, emphasising the significance of the merger in reshaping the Indian aviation landscape. He highlighted that Singapore Airlines would continue to support the transformation of the newly expanded Air India Group, offering expertise to help restore the airline’s leadership in the Indian aviation market. He also mentioned their commitment to enhancing customer offerings between India and Singapore, as well as other global destinations.
This merger solidifies Singapore Airlines’ long-standing involvement in the Indian aviation market, one of the fastest-growing in the world. The expanded Air India Group now operates a fleet of 300 aircraft, serving 55 domestic and 48 international destinations, with 312 routes and 8,300 weekly flights. The airline’s global reach includes over 800 destinations through more than 75 codeshare and interline partners, bolstering its international connectivity.
Chandrasekaran noted that the merger is a significant milestone in Air India’s ongoing transformation since its return to the Tata Group over two and a half years ago. He emphasised that the partnership with Singapore Airlines continues to play a vital role in the airline’s evolution into a world-class global carrier.
The merger between Air India and Vistara brings together over 30,000 staff, contributing to the expanded capabilities and reach of the Air India Group, which is now poised to offer improved services and enhanced connectivity to its customers.
