With an official merger just weeks away, Air India has confirmed a new distinct airline code for fellow Indian carrier Vistara.
On October 18, 2024, Air India officially announced that henceforth, all Vistara flight operations are to fly under the new code ‘AI 2’, rather than the traditional ‘UK’.
The ‘2’ will ensure that Vistara remains distinct from Air India, which adopts AI as its airline code, helping to reinforce the fact that the merger does not mean either airline will lose its identity.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Air India told customers: “Familiar as always, exciting as never before. With the merger on the horizon and the changes that come with it, we wanted to assure you that your Vistara in-flight experience is not going away. You can continue to enjoy the same world-class fleet, exceptional service, and familiar faces under the new code AI 2XXX.”
The airline added: “And as a part of the larger transformation journey, you will discover even more to love, with a wider network, enhanced benefits, and a world of endless possibilities that await you.”
The merger between Air India and Vistara on November 12, 2024, will see the combined carrier become the second largest in India, after IndiGo.
Singapore Airlines is currently joint owner of Vistara alongside the Tata Group and will hold a stake of around 25.1% in the combined Air India Group.
Familiar as always, Exciting as never before.
— Air India (@airindia) October 18, 2024
With the merger on the horizon and the changes that come with it, we wanted to assure you that your Vistara in-flight experience is not going away. You can continue to enjoy the same world-class fleet, exceptional service, and… pic.twitter.com/r2g68vFewx
As part of the merger, existing members of Club Vistara will have their points transferred onto Air India’s Flying Returns loyalty program.
From the start of September 2024, Vistara customers have progressively been unable to make bookings for travel after November 11, 2024.
Any flights previously booked with Vistara for travel after this date will be operated by Air India under the new airline code.