'New journey on the horizon awaits': Once foes on the runway, IndiGo bids adieu to Vistara as it takes its final flight

IndiGo on Monday gave a virtual tribute to Vistara, its once-rival airline, as the full-service carrier took its final flight.

The airline shared a heartfelt message for Vistara, acknowledging its "unforgettable legacy."

"As an unforgettable legacy takes its final flight, a new journey on the horizon awaits. Goodbye, @airvistara. Here's #ToLimitlessPossibilities ahead," the airline wrote on X, accompanied by a video capturing the airline's last moments in the skies.



Vistara's official social media account responded with optimism on the post.

"Onward and upward! Here's to the future and all the exciting possibilities it holds!" Vistara said in a comment.

Netizens praised IndiGo for the gesture and shared their experiences of travelling in a Vistara flight.





Vistara merged with Tata-owned Air India on Tuesday. The merger, which brings a new dawn for both airlines, will transform Air India into a major competitor to IndiGo, which currently dominates the Indian domestic aviation market.

With Vistara now fully integrated into Air India, the Tata Group-controlled airline group, which also includes AIX Connect and Air India Express, will operate a combined fleet of 300 aircraft, serving over 300 destinations globally.

This makes the merged entity India's largest international carrier and the second-largest domestic airline, poised to challenge IndiGo’s market leadership.

Air India’s expanded fleet and network

Following the merger, Air India will now operate a fleet of 67 wide-body aircraft, including seven from Vistara, and will run 5,600 weekly flights connecting more than 90 domestic and international destinations.

The merger brings a total of over 120,000 daily passengers, with connections to over 800 destinations through partnerships with more than 75 global airlines.

The integration process, which began over two years ago, involved aligning operations, merging IT systems, and integrating staff. Vistara's aircraft will now operate under the Air India banner, with flights identified by a new four-digit flight number starting with "2."

Further, Vistara’s loyalty program, Club Vistara, has been merged into Air India's Flying Returns program, which has been rebranded as ‘Maharaja Club.’

Singapore Airlines, which previously held a 49% stake in Vistara, now holds a 25.1% share in the Air India group.

As of September, the Air India group, which includes Vistara and AIX Connect, commanded over 29% of the domestic market share.

The combined fleet includes a range of aircraft such as Boeing 777s, 787s, and A350s, as well as the A320 family, with plans to expand its operations further in the coming months.