Airlines

Vistara prepares to merge staff into Air India, CEO confirms

As the nation’s industrial Tata family combines the two airlines to rebuild its aviation empire and challenge market leader IndiGo, India’s Vistara airline has started making steps to merge its workforce into Air India Ltd.

Vinod Kannan, the CEO of Vistara, told on Monday that “the process of integrating the staff has started.” He anticipates that regulatory approvals will be finished by April 2024, confirming an earlier claim that Indian officials had expressed antitrust concerns.

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According to a deal announced in November, Vistara, which is now controlled jointly by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines Ltd., will be merged with Air India, giving the Tatas additional strength to compete with dominant low-cost carrier IndiGo. In exchange for its interest in Vistara and a $250 million investment, Singapore Air will obtain a 25.1% ownership in the combined company.

Due to limitations in the nation’s competition rules, Mr. Kannan said Vistara has assembled a team to debate what should be the “end structure” of the integrated organization. The airline is informally discussing the merger process with its pilots and cabin crew while also submitting an application to Singapore’s competition authorities.

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When the merger is finalized, Vistara, which will have a fleet of 70 aircraft, wants to add capacity to Dubai, Bali, and Bahrain, according to Mr. Kannan. The airline has a fleet of 61 aircraft, including four bigger Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 12 Airbus SE A320neo narrowbodies.

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Airlines

PIA Reinstates Manchester and Paris Routes After EU Ban Lift

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to resume flights to Europe starting in January, beginning with Paris as its first destination.

The decision follows the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of a long-standing ban on the airline. PIA’s inaugural flight to Paris is scheduled for January 10, with bookings opening on December 9.

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In an official statement, PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan confirmed that the first flight schedule has been approved, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s recovery efforts. The EU ban had previously cost PIA approximately Rs40 billion ($144 million) annually in lost revenue, compounding its financial struggles.

With European operations restarting, PIA is now setting its sights on the United Kingdom. The airline plans to seek approval from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) to resume flights to major British cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

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These routes are anticipated to see high demand once necessary clearances are obtained. The lifting of the EU ban represents a key achievement for PIA as it works to rebuild its international network and regain its standing in the global aviation market.

By restoring flights to Europe and aiming for UK destinations, PIA is taking critical steps toward recovering lost ground and improving its financial outlook.