Air India–Vistara Merger in 2026: What Actually Changes for Indian Flyers
By Aarav Sharma (Aarav Sharma covers Indian airline operations, airport infrastructure and route economics. He writes about Tier-1 and Tier-2 airport developments, IndiGo and Air India fleet strategy, and the unsung Indian aviation hubs travellers should know about.) · Published · Last updated · 13 min read
The Air India–Vistara merger completed in November 2024, and by 2026 the dust has settled. Vistara flights now carry Air India codes, loyalty programmes are unified under Maharaja Club, and the Star Alliance network has expanded. Here's a clear, India-first rundown of what changed and what to do about it.
Quick answer
The Air India–Vistara merger completed on 12 November 2024, and by June 2026 Vistara no longer exists as a separate airline. Former Vistara flights operate under Air India codes (the 'AI 2xxx' series), the loyalty programmes were unified into Maharaja Club, and Air India's Star Alliance membership expanded the partner network. For most flyers the Vistara cabin experience continues on those aircraft for now, but you book everything as Air India. Details keep evolving — check the official Air India merger FAQ and compare live fares in the FlightGPT chat.
Flight codes: the 'AI 2xxx' change
The most visible change is the flight number. Former Vistara routes now run under Air India's code with a four-digit number starting with 2 — for example, a Delhi–Mumbai service that was 'UK 9xx' is now something like 'AI 22xx'. Practically, this means when you search, you'll only ever see Air India; the Vistara 'UK' code has been retired.
If you have an old Vistara booking reference (PNR), it should have migrated to Air India's system. If you can't find a booking, the Air India 'Manage Booking' tool and customer support can locate it by your old PNR. See our PNR and miles migration guide for the lookup steps.
The cabin experience: does Vistara service survive?
Air India committed to continuing the Vistara service proposition on the inducted aircraft, operated by former Vistara crew, during the transition. So if you board an ex-Vistara A320neo or 787, you may still get the more premium soft product Vistara was known for — better catering, the Vistara-style seats — even though it's an Air India flight on paper.
Over time Air India is harmonising the fleet and product under its own refreshed standard (new seats, new catering, the wider cabin-refit programme). The honest position as of June 2026: the experience varies by aircraft, and you can't always tell which product you'll get from the booking screen. For the broader cabin picture, read our Air India business class transformation guide.
Loyalty: Maharaja Club replaces both programmes
Air India's Flying Returns and Vistara's Club Vistara were both folded into the redesigned Maharaja Club. Roughly 4.5 million Club Vistara accounts were migrated, balances consolidated into Maharaja Points, and members generally kept the higher of their two tiers. The four-tier ladder (Red, Silver, Gold, Platinum) now carries Star Alliance status at the upper tiers.
If you held both memberships, check that your combined balance and tier landed correctly. Our Maharaja Club tiers guide breaks down qualification and benefits, and the miles-balance guide covers what happened to your points.
Codeshares and the Star Alliance network
Vistara's standalone codeshare and interline agreements did not all carry over — but the merger plugged former Vistara routes into Air India's Star Alliance membership and its 75-plus codeshare/interline partners. Net effect for most flyers: more connecting options and easier through-ticketing to global destinations, plus the ability to earn and burn Maharaja Points across Star Alliance carriers.
Singapore Airlines (a former Vistara joint-venture partner) and Air India have been expanding their codeshare, adding Indian cities and international destinations. If you previously relied on a specific Vistara partner perk, verify it still exists under the Air India/Star Alliance framework before you depend on it.
What this means for booking your next flight
Day to day, the merger simplifies things: one airline, one app, one loyalty currency, one Star Alliance network. Watch for three things. First, fare families are now Air India's Smart Fares (Value/Classic/Flex) — see our Air India fare types guide. Second, baggage and seat rules follow Air India's policy, not Vistara's old one. Third, product inconsistency during the transition means it's worth checking which aircraft operates your route.
With Vistara gone, the Indian full-service space is essentially Air India versus the low-cost field. To see whether Air India or a low-cost carrier wins on your route, run it through the FlightGPT chat and check route pages like Delhi to Mumbai.
The honest verdict for Indian flyers
The merger is a net positive for most travellers: a bigger network, a single loyalty programme with Star Alliance reach, and a larger combined fleet (200-plus aircraft serving 90-plus destinations). The trade-off is a loss of Vistara's distinctively consistent premium product, which is being absorbed into Air India's broader — and still improving — standard.
If you were a Vistara loyalist, the things to action are: confirm your Maharaja Club tier and balance, learn Air India's Smart Fares, and re-check any partner perks you relied on. Everything else mostly just works, under a new flight number.
Premium Economy, lounges and the things to double-check
Two former-Vistara features survive in altered form and are worth verifying for your trip. First, Premium Economy — Vistara popularised it on Indian routes, and Air India offers it on select widebody aircraft, but availability varies by route and aircraft, so confirm the cabin before booking if you want it. Second, lounge access — the Air India lounge network and Maharaja Club tier benefits now govern this, not Vistara's old rules; Gold and Platinum members get access at qualifying airports.
Other things to re-check post-merger: your baggage allowance now follows Air India's Smart Fares, seat-selection rules changed, and any Vistara partner perk you relied on may have lapsed in favour of Star Alliance equivalents. Treat the merger as a prompt to re-confirm your assumptions rather than assuming continuity. Price your next Air India trip and compare cabins in the FlightGPT chat.
Key takeaways
To recap what actually changed by 2026: Vistara is gone, fully merged into Air India. Former Vistara flights fly under 'AI 2xxx' codes, loyalty is unified under Maharaja Club, and the Star Alliance network expanded connectivity.
- Action 1: confirm your Maharaja Club tier and consolidated points balance landed correctly.
- Action 2: learn Air India's Smart Fares (Value/Classic/Flex) — baggage and seat rules now follow these, not Vistara's old ones.
- Action 3: re-check any Vistara partner perk and whether Premium Economy is offered on your specific aircraft.
The merger is a net positive — bigger network, single loyalty currency, Star Alliance reach — at the cost of Vistara's consistently premium product being absorbed into Air India's improving standard. Price your next trip in the FlightGPT chat and confirm details on airindia.com.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vistara still exist in 2026?
No. The Air India–Vistara merger completed on 12 November 2024, and Vistara has been fully absorbed into Air India. Former Vistara flights now operate under Air India codes (the AI 2xxx series), and you book everything as Air India.
What happened to my Club Vistara miles after the merger?
Club Vistara accounts were migrated into Air India's unified Maharaja Club, with balances consolidated into Maharaja Points. Members generally retained the higher of their two tiers. Check your balance in the Air India app and confirm via airindia.com.
Is the Vistara service experience still available?
On former Vistara aircraft, Air India committed to continuing the Vistara service proposition during the transition. But the product is being harmonised under Air India's refreshed standard, so the experience varies by aircraft as of June 2026.
How do I find my old Vistara booking now?
Old Vistara PNRs migrated to Air India's system. Use Air India's Manage Booking tool or contact Air India support with your original Vistara reference to locate the booking, which now appears under an Air India flight number.
Did the merger expand Air India's network?
Yes. The merged airline operates 200-plus aircraft to 90-plus destinations, and former Vistara routes now connect into Air India's Star Alliance membership and its 75-plus codeshare/interline partners, expanding global connectivity for flyers.