GURUGRAM- Air India Group today announced significant management shifts in preparation for the upcoming merger between Air India (AI) and Vistara (UK), scheduled for November 12, 2024.
Further, Air India launched a new service, ‘Fly Prior,’ offering travelers greater flexibility for domestic flights across India.
Air India Vistara Management Change
- Vinod Kannan, currently CEO of Vistara and Chief Integration Officer for the merger, will continue his integration role post-merger. Reporting directly to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, he will also join the Management Committee.
- Deepak Rajawat, Vistara’s Chief Commercial Officer, will become Chief Financial Officer of the newly expanded Air India Express. Reporting to CEO Aloke Singh, he will also assist Group CFO Sanjay Sharma with strategic initiatives. This shift moves Vikas Agarwal, current CFO of Air India Express, into a new role within Air India.
- Capt. Hamish Maxwell, Senior VP of Flight Operations at Vistara, will transition to an advisory role with Air India Express CEO Aloke Singh. Meanwhile, Capt. Pushpinder Singh, COO of Air India Express, will return to flying duties, with his successor to be named later.
- Deepa Chadha and Vinod Bhatt, Vistara’s SVP of HR & Corporate Affairs and Chief Information Officer, respectively, will move to senior roles within other Tata companies. Vistara CFO Niyant Maru will retire at the end of his term, having extended his service to support the merger process.
All other CXO positions and reporting structures within Air India Group remain unchanged.
In his statement, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson emphasized the scale of this consolidation, acknowledging the contributions of leaders from all four Tata airlines.
“Over the past two years, we’ve executed one of the most complex mergers in aviation history, reducing from four airlines to two amidst significant growth and transformation,” said Wilson. He expressed appreciation for the departing and transitioning leaders, noting their lasting impact on Air India’s legacy and future.
Fly Prior, the Game-changing Service
Here’s the details on Fly Prior:
Fly Prior Service Details:
- Passengers with ‘Fly Prior’ can take an earlier flight departing up to 12 hours before their originally scheduled flight, as long as both flights are on the same date. This option accommodates last-minute adjustments, allowing travelers to reschedule as needed to reach their destinations sooner.
- The service depends on seat availability in the same cabin class as initially booked.
Availability and Costs:
- The ‘Fly Prior’ option is available exclusively at Air India’s airport ticketing counters and check-in desks across India.
- The service is complimentary for Gold and Platinum members of Air India’s Flying Returns loyalty program.
- For other passengers, the service is available at an additional fee:
- INR 2,199 for flights between major cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune).
- INR 1,499 for flights between other destinations within India.
Additional Service Information:
- Upon opting for ‘Fly Prior,’ passengers receive instant booking confirmation for the earlier flight, and any checked baggage is transferred immediately.
- Ancillary services such as excess baggage, priority handling, and upgrades move to the new flight, although seat selection and special meal requests do not.
Air India aims to enhance customer experience with ‘Fly Prior,’ aligning with its goal of seamless travel across touchpoints.
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