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Air India to run Vistara flights from November as merger gets essential approval

Indian provider Vistara stated on Friday its planes would be operated by Air India from November as a. merger between Vistara and the nation's flag carrier got. momentum following a key Indian government approval.

Singapore Airlines, which owns 49% of Vistara in a. joint endeavor with India's Tata Group said it had actually gotten. approval for foreign direct investment into an expanded Air. India, clearing a considerable hurdle in the merger procedure.

Singapore's flagship carrier revealed a strategy to merge the. decade-old Vistara and Tata-owned Air India in November 2022, in. a quote to develop a dominant full-service airline in the domestic. and global markets.

India is among the world's fastest-growing significant air travel. markets. Global airline companies are expanding flights to the country. and Indian airline companies in 2015 placed record orders for hundreds. of new planes.

Singapore Airlines said it anticipated the merger offer, which. Indian and Singaporean antitrust regulators have cleared, to be. finished by the end of 2024.

That is postponed from the initial target of March, and the. airline stated the companies remained in speak about an extension to. the agreed stop date of Oct. 31.

From Sept. 3, it will not be possible to book with Vistara. for travel on or after Nov. 12, Vistara said in a declaration.

All Vistara airplane afterwards will be run by Air. India and reservations for the paths operated by these aircraft. will be rerouted to Air India's website, it included.

Air India staff have actually been working for months with Vistara on. the transition and anticipate using a broadened network,. more flight choices and an enhanced frequent leaflet program, the. flag provider's CEO Campbell Wilson said in a statement.

Air India has said previously the Vistara brand name will. become retired.

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

The Singaporean company is due to invest approximately 50.2 billion. Indian rupees ($ 599 million) after the merger is completed, it. stated on Friday.

India's Tata took over flag carrier Air India in 2022 and. embarked on a multi-million dollar transformation of the previous. state-run airline.

(source: Reuters)