Vistara airlines will be merged with Tata-owned Air India by March 2024. The rearrangement will mean a wider fleet and more routes under the Air India brand. Singapore Airlines owns a minority share in Vistara in a joint venture with Tata.
Singapore Airlines will take a 25 per cent stake in an enlarged Air India. At present it owns 49 per cent of Vistara, while 51 per cent is with Tata. The companies "aim to complete the merger by March 2024, subject to regulatory approvals", said the release.
Air India has 113 aircraft in its fleet and aims to triple this number over the next five years. Once the other three brands are merged into Air India, the fleet size will cross 200. Reports have said it is likely to order 300 narrow-body jets, one of the largest orders in aviation history.