Air India is going through a mammoth integration effort to combine Air India Express and AirAsia India into one carrier and Air India and Vistara into another carrier. For this, while Air India Express and AirAsia India have gotten the go-ahead from the anti-trust regulator of India, the CCI, the go-ahead is still awaited for Vistara and Air India’s integration.
While the two airlines operate under one company now, they are still working with two different Air Operators’ Certificates. That part of the merger will be solved in due course of time. However, Mint reports that four A320neo aircraft from AirAsia India are also being transferred to Air India Express for international operations.
One of the first AirAsia India flights to operate on behalf of Air India Express will be on August 28. The airline will have its A320neo operate a daily rotation on the Delhi – Sharjah – Varanasi – Sharjah – Delhi rotation effective August 28, 2023, replacing the Boeing 737-800, which operates this service so far.
Towards the merger and the upcoming reveal of Air India Express’s brand identity in October 2023, AirAsia India aircraft are being stripped of their logos and operated in the red livery.
Air India Express and Air India also plan to sign a code-share agreement. Air India Express will withdraw from routes where business class capacity is necessary, and Air India will leave non-trunk routes to Air India Express.
In another interesting move, Vistara will receive pilots from Air India on deputation to operate their Boeing 787-9 aircraft flights out of Mumbai. As per The Economic Times, Vistara has a limited number of 787 pilots in Mumbai base. The airline currently operates a BOM-LHR and return flight out of Mumbai. However, with the arrival of another 787-9 in August 2023, it is expected to go to Mumbai for another flight to be added from Mumbai as well. However, this move will only be put in play after the airlines receive the go-ahead from the CCI for a merger.
17/08/2023 Live from a Lounge
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