Merger with Vistara to be complete by December; Air India CEO
15 May 2024
2 Min Read
CW Team
Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara, had previously informed reporters in January about his anticipation of an operational merger with Air India by mid-2025.
?The integration of approximately 7,000 employees of Vistara will begin in June, with its merger into Air India targeted to be completed by this year?s end?, said Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India.
During a town hall meeting, both Wilson and Kannan addressed employees from both carriers. Wilson disclosed that 120 pilots have been seconded between the two airlines, along with approximately 60 non-flying staff from Vistara being seconded to Air India. The CEOs also mentioned that assessments for 7,000 Vistara employees have been completed, with their integration into Air India in advanced stages, set to begin from June onwards. A few Vistara employees will remain until the surrender of its air operator certificate (AOC) to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Maintaining the employee ratio between Air India and Vistara at 12:5 since the Tata group's takeover of Air India in January 2022, Wilson noted during the town hall that this ratio has been sustained over the past two years. Currently, Air India employs around 17,000 individuals, while Vistara has approximately 7,000 employees.
Efforts to share best practices between the two airlines are underway, with both carriers harmonising their standard operating procedures (SOPs). Wilson mentioned the activation of 'myIDTravel,' allowing employees to book tickets across both airlines. He also highlighted Air India's addition of 70 aircraft ? 17 widebodies and 53 narrowbodies ? in the past 24 months, equivalent to integrating one Vistara into Air India.
Despite recent disruptions experienced by Vistara and Air India Express, Wilson and Kannan did not directly address these issues at the meeting. Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, is undergoing a merger with Air India, while Air India Express is merging with AIX Connect to form a low-cost airline subsidiary.
Recent turbulence at Air India Express, involving over 100 cabin crew members going on sick leave, followed Vistara's cancellation of 10% of its flights due to pilot sick leave. These incidents are attributed to dissatisfaction over duty schedules and salary packages amid the airline mergers.
(Source: Business Standard)
Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara, had previously informed reporters in January about his anticipation of an operational merger with Air India by mid-2025.
?The integration of approximately 7,000 employees of Vistara will begin in June, with its merger into Air India targeted to be completed by this year?s end?, said Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India.
During a town hall meeting, both Wilson and Kannan addressed employees from both carriers. Wilson disclosed that 120 pilots have been seconded between the two airlines, along with approximately 60 non-flying staff from Vistara being seconded to Air India. The CEOs also mentioned that assessments for 7,000 Vistara employees have been completed, with their integration into Air India in advanced stages, set to begin from June onwards. A few Vistara employees will remain until the surrender of its air operator certificate (AOC) to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Maintaining the employee ratio between Air India and Vistara at 12:5 since the Tata group's takeover of Air India in January 2022, Wilson noted during the town hall that this ratio has been sustained over the past two years. Currently, Air India employs around 17,000 individuals, while Vistara has approximately 7,000 employees.
Efforts to share best practices between the two airlines are underway, with both carriers harmonising their standard operating procedures (SOPs). Wilson mentioned the activation of 'myIDTravel,' allowing employees to book tickets across both airlines. He also highlighted Air India's addition of 70 aircraft ? 17 widebodies and 53 narrowbodies ? in the past 24 months, equivalent to integrating one Vistara into Air India.
Despite recent disruptions experienced by Vistara and Air India Express, Wilson and Kannan did not directly address these issues at the meeting. Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, is undergoing a merger with Air India, while Air India Express is merging with AIX Connect to form a low-cost airline subsidiary.
Recent turbulence at Air India Express, involving over 100 cabin crew members going on sick leave, followed Vistara's cancellation of 10% of its flights due to pilot sick leave. These incidents are attributed to dissatisfaction over duty schedules and salary packages amid the airline mergers.
(Source: Business Standard)
Next Story
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Set to Launch by 2028
India鈥檚 first bullet train is set to revolutionize high-speed travel along the western corridor, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project aiming for a 2028 launch. This announcement marks a major milestone in India鈥檚 infrastructure goals, as it promises to reduce travel time between the two economic hubs from eight hours to just three.Spanning a planned 508-kilometre stretch, the corridor stands as a flagship example of Indo-Japanese collaboration in technology and engineering. Once operational, the train is expected to transform intercity mobility and place India among the select..
Next Story
Mumbai-Gandhinagar Train Service Enhances Passenger Capacity
The Mumbai Central鈥揋andhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express has increased its passenger capacity by adding four additional AC chair car coaches to meet the growing commuter demand on one of India鈥檚 busiest business corridors. This upgrade, effective from 11 May, raised the train鈥檚 seating capacity from 1,128 to 1,440 passengers, allowing it to serve 936 more passengers daily in both directions. The increase was described as a practical measure to accommodate the surging demand on the busy Mumbai鈥揂hmedabad鈥揋andhinagar route, which regularly operates at over 150 percent seat occupancy...
Next Story
Delhi Plans 12 Sewage Plants to Clean Najafgarh Drain Efficiently
Delhi鈥檚 ambitious plan to improve the water quality of the Yamuna River has gained significant momentum as the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has begun work on 12 new sewage treatment plants (STPs) aimed at reducing the volume of untreated sewage being discharged from the Najafgarh Drain.This initiative forms part of the ongoing efforts to clean the Yamuna and restore the river鈥檚 health, which has long been a critical environmental issue for the national capital. Given the alarming pollution levels in the Yamuna, experts and officials consider this project a vital step toward addressing the persist..
