The newly integrated Air India-Vistara entity, part of Tata Group’s consolidation of its airline ventures, took to the skies with its inaugural international flight on Monday night, departing from Doha and bound for Mumbai. Operating under the code “AI2286,” the aircraft left Doha at approximately 10:07 p.m. local time, with an expected arrival in Mumbai early Tuesday morning.
This inaugural journey is not only the first for the merged entity but also signals the commencement of their international operations. On the domestic front, the merged entity’s maiden flight took off shortly afterward. Flight “AI2984,” scheduled for an early Tuesday morning departure from Mumbai to Delhi, took off around 1:30 a.m., marking its first domestic journey with an Airbus A320.
The new code structure “AI2XXX” has been adopted for Vistara flights operated under the Air India brand post-merger, a move intended to help travelers recognize the former Vistara flights at the time of booking.
According to an inside source, the Doha-Mumbai flight marked the official debut for the merged airline’s operational integration. As reported by flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com, the inaugural international flight was serviced by an Airbus A321, departing Doha at 10:07 p.m. local time. The approximate flight duration was around three hours.
The integration of Vistara and Air India represents a significant consolidation in India’s aviation sector, combining the strengths and resources of two Tata Group-controlled airlines. Established as a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines, Vistara will now operate under the Air India banner, with Singapore Airlines holding a 25.1% stake in the newly unified airline entity.
