Summary
- The Tata Group has reportedly asked some Air India pilots to fly Vistara Dreamliners.
- Air India and Vistara are the one Indian airlines operating Boeing 787 planes, and resource sharing between the 2 could occur before the merger is finalized.
- Air India currently has 27 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, while Vistara has 4 Boeing 787-9 planes, with three more arriving by next yr.
In an indication of things to come back, the Tata Group has reportedly asked some Air India pilots to fly Boeing 787 aircraft of Vistara. Each Air India and Vistara have Dreamliners of their fleet, and once the Competition Commission of India officially approves the 2 carriers’ merger proposal, a few of Air India’s pilots might be asked to fly Vistara widebody planes.
Consent sought
The Tata Group has asked a few of Air India’s Boeing 787 pilots to fly Vistara Dreamliners. In accordance with a report by The Economic Times (ET), people aware of the matter have said that the management is in search of consent from Air India pilots in the event that they need to go on deputation to Vistara as line captains on “existing emoluments.” The last day to fill out the consent form was August fifteenth.
Photo: Vistara
Air India and Vistara are within the strategy of merging their businesses to form a consolidated full-service airline. Eventually, their employees will work together, but the newest move suggests that resource sharing might be done even before a deal is formally signed. ET quotes a source as saying,
Boeing 787 fleet
Air India and Vistara are the one two Indian airlines that operate Boeing 787 planes. Air India’s fleet has 27 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, while Vistara currently has 4 Boeing 787-9 planes, one among which is on lease. It should also get three more Dreamliners by March next yr.
Photo: Nicolas Economou | Shutterstock
The 787-9 has an extended fuselage, and Air India pilots who conform to go on deputation may also need to take temporary ground classes and conversion simulator training for the 787-9 type. They may also require a 787-9 endorsement from India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Approval for merger pending
After all, all of this can occur only after Air India receives the green light from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for its proposed merger with Vistara. The Tata Group approached the CCI in April, in search of its approval for the merger.
In June, it was reported that the CCI had more questions regarding the merger, even though it will not be being viewed as anything out of the extraordinary. Business decisions like these often need to face strict scrutiny by higher authorities to be certain that competition throughout the industry stays fair.
Photo: Media_works | Shutterstock
Recently, Campbell Wilson, Air India’s Chief Executive Officer, and Sidharth Sharma, Tata Group’s General Counsel, met with Ravneet Kaur, the Chief of the Competition Commission of India, to debate the continuing merger process and its potential impact the merger could have on India’s airline industry. Hopefully, the CCI will give its approval soon.
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