Tag Archives: Air India

India approves Singapore Airlines’ FDI for merger of Vistara with Air India

Singapore Airlines has received approval from the Government of India for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vistara , paying the way for its joint venture with Tata Group, into Air India, the airline said in a regulatory filing.

Singapore’s flagship carrier announced a plan to merge the decade-old Vistara and Tata-owned Air India in November 2022, in a bid to create a dominant full-service airline in the domestic and international markets.

Singapore Airlines said it expected the deal, which Indian and Singaporean antitrust regulators have cleared, to be completed by the end of 2024.

Singapore Airlines, which is the only foreign airline with a direct stake in an Indian carrier, will hold a 25.1% stake in the combined Air India group in return for a USD 250 million investment.

The Singaporean company is due to invest up to SGD 880 million after the merger is completed. (Source: Reuters)

Air India adds 7 Indian Languages to 24/7 support

 

Air India has expanded its 24/7 customer support services by introducing seven new Indian languages: Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu, alongside the existing Hindi and English options.

Recognising India’s linguistic diversity, Air India aims to enhance the customer experience by offering services in these additional languages, ensuring passengers can communicate in their preferred dialects. This move aligns with the airline’s vision of being a ‘global airline with an Indian heart.’

Air India’s IVR system now automatically detects the customer’s language preference based on the user’s mobile network, streamlining the process and reducing response times.

Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India, stated, “The introduction of multilingual support in Indian languages is a significant milestone in our transformation journey. We are expanding our reach and strengthening customer relationships by ensuring every interaction feels familiar and inclusive.”

Air India recently launched five new contact centers providing global 24/7 support with dedicated desks for premium and frequent flyers. Special assistance in Indian languages is available daily from 0800 hrs to 2300 hrs IST. Additionally, the airline has insourced back-office operations for managing emails, social media, and chat support, significantly improving customer service quality and efficiency.

Vistara set to merge with Air India following Cabinet approval on FDI

The merger between Vistara and Air India is expected to receive final approval from the Indian Cabinet as early as this Saturday.

The Cabinet’s decision will pave the way for Singapore Airlines (SIA) to make a significant investment in the merged entity. SIA, which currently holds a 49% stake in Vistara, will invest INR 2,059 crore to acquire a 25.1% stake in the merged airline. Tata Sons will retain the remaining 74.9% stake in Air India.

All necessary approvals from regulatory bodies, including the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), have already been secured. Once the Cabinet approves the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Air India and Vistara will begin notifying passengers about the merger timeline. Customers with bookings on Vistara flights scheduled to operate after the merger date will be informed of changes to their flight details, including new Air India flight numbers and timings.

Sources indicate that the merger is likely to take place after Diwali (November 1) to avoid the peak festive travel season and potential complications from foggy weather in late December. Vistara’s fleet of 70 aircraft will continue to fly in its current livery until heavy maintenance checks, when the planes will be repainted in Air India’s new colours.

The merger comes after discussions about potentially delaying the integration to allow time for upgrading Air India’s fleet. However, due to growing concerns among Vistara employees about job security and management roles, the decision has been made to complete the merger before the end of the year.

Passengers who have booked premium services on Vistara, such as business or premium economy class, should not face downgrades due to the merger. The airlines are working to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining service standards and minimising disruptions.

Additionally, Vistara has already informed passengers about the transfer of frequent flyer miles to Air India’s loyalty program, and many Vistara employees have begun moving to Air India’s new headquarters in Gurgaon.
The merger aims to consolidate the strengths of both airlines and enhance Air India’s market position as a full-service carrier.

Air India to operate temporary flights to Kolkata from 4 cities

Air India will temporarily operate additional flights to Kolkata from four Indian cities to meet greater travel demand to the city during the upcoming Durga Puja festivities.

Starting September 20, 2024, Air India will operate daily, non-stop flights to Kolkata from Bengaluru and Hyderabad for nearly a month.

The airline has also increased frequency to Kolkata from Delhi effective 15 August 2024, and from Mumbai effective 25 September 2024.

With these additions, Air India will increase frequency on the Delhi-Kolkata route from 28x weekly to 35x weekly flights, and on the Mumbai-Kolkata route from 21x weekly to 28x weekly.

The added flights will operate at convenient times, providing greater choice and ease to travellers who plan to visit their loved ones during the joyous festive season. Air India’s flights to/from Kolkata are also conveniently timed to enable seamless connections via its Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru hubs to/from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, as well as several countries in Europe and Southeast Asia.

 

SCHEDULE OF NEW FLIGHTS TO/FROM KOLKATA
Flight # Sector Days of Operation Departure Arrival Effective Date Discontinue Date
AI702 Delhi-Kolkata Daily 0220 Hrs 0435 Hrs 15-Aug-24 26-Oct-24
AI703 Kolkata-Delhi Daily 0525 Hrs 0745 Hrs 15-Aug-24 26-Oct-24
AI689 Mumbai-Kolkata Daily 1210 Hrs 1455 Hrs 25-Sept-24 13-Oct-24
AI690 Kolkata-Mumbai Daily 1540 Hrs 1835 Hrs 25-Sept-24 13-Oct-24
AI524 Bengaluru-Kolkata Daily 1210* Hrs 1435 Hrs 20-Sept-24 26-Oct-24
AI526 Kolkata-Bengaluru Daily 1740 Hrs 1950 Hrs 20-Sept-24 26-Oct-24
AI529 Hyderabad-Kolkata Daily 2030 Hrs 2240 Hrs 20-Sept-24 26-Oct-24
AI530 Kolkata-Hyderabad Daily 1515 Hrs 1740 Hrs 20-Sept-24 26-Oct-24

*Scheduled time of departure on Sundays is 1155 Hrs

 

Air India unveils wireless inflight entertainment ‘Vista’

Air India has launched its wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) service, Vista, across the existing wide-body fleet to provide customers with uninterrupted entertainment until the retrofit. Following this, Vista will also be available on narrow-body aircraft.

Powered by Bluebox, an award-winning digital services provider, Vista is being deployed on Bluebox’s Blueview digital services platform and delivered to customers via the Bluebox Wow wireless network system.

Vista enables customers to seamlessly stream content on their personal electronic devices. From Bollywood blockbusters to Hollywood premieres, global music icons to captivating documentaries, the world’s best content will now be at the fingertips of Air India customers. Additionally, Vista features a live map display for flight tracking. Available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS devices, Vista ensures travellers can easily access and engage with new in-flight entertainment content.

“At Air India, we are continuously striving to anticipate and meet the evolving needs of our modern travellers. We are pleased to introduce Vista, a new feature for our customers. It allows seamless integration of personal devices, enhancing the overall travel experience for our customers.”, said Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India.

“We are excited to partner with Air India. Together, we aim to set new standards for a customised customer experience and uninterrupted enjoyment that reflects both Air India’s commitment to excellence and our commitment to engaging and entertaining customers on board,” said Kevin Birchmore, VP Global Sales, Bluebox.
Air India’s meticulously curated content library featuring over 950+ hours of entertainment across formats and genres includes classic melodies, timeless favourites, BAFTA and Oscar-winning/nominated titles, short films, acclaimed series, and specially curated content for children, a diverse range of options customised periodically.

Air India discontinues Pune-Mumbai service

Air India has discontinued its Pune-Mumbai flight due to the consistent low passenger occupancy, The Indian Express reported.

The flight duration was 55 minutes.

Sanjay Dhoke, Pune Airport Director, confirmed that the service has been discontinued, citing Air India’s “commercial considerations” as the reason.

The Pune-Mumbai route witnesses a strong demand, however, Air India failed to rope in a significant passenger interest due to its inconvenient mid-day schedule, IE reported.

The schedule for Air India’s Mumbai-Pune service was as follows: Flight AI 841 departed Mumbai daily at 11:05 am and arrived in Pune at 11:55 am. The return flight, AI 842, departed Pune at 12:45 pm and arrived in Mumbai at 1:35 pm.