Air India Will Absorb All Vistara Employees Following The Merger

A significant part of the Air India-Vistara merger involves the integration of the employees of the two carriers. The shift will likely affect Vistara employees more, who will see their company dissolve and move to a new airline. Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan has said that all Vistara employees will be absorbed in Air India, and there will be ample opportunities to explore in the new company.

The big shift

All of the 5,000+ employees of Vistara will find roles in Air India following the merger of the two airlines. Vistara’s Chief Executive Officer Vinod Kannan spoke in an interview at the CAPA Aviation Summit in New Delhi and said,

“There will be opportunities for everyone in the bigger unit. All of them will be absorbed in the new combined entity.”

Kannan also highlighted that almost 80% of Vistara’s staff works in operational roles. These include pilots, cabin crew, and engineers, among others. With Vistara’s planes eventually becoming one with Air India’s fleet, all employees will make a shift as well.

Photo: Airbus

What also works for both airlines is that under government ownership, Air India did not hire people for several departments for the last 15 years. As such, finding new opportunities and similar roles should not be that big of a problem. Kannan added,

“The assurance (to Vistara staff) is that we will find a place for you. It may not be like-to-like in the same title and same designation etc., but it will be something that you will be comfortable with.”

Integration process underway

The gigantic task of bringing the two airlines together is going full steam ahead. Both airlines are busy finding suitable roles for management executives as well as getting regulatory approvals before the deadline of early next year to finalize the merger.

Interviews are being conducted at various levels for non-flying staff who are being assessed for leadership roles. The best fit among senior to mid-level executives will be retained for the post, and other candidates will be given a different role if available.

Photo: Nicolas Economou | Shutterstock

Agencies such as the DGCA, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the competition commissions of both India and Singapore are being approached to get their permission for the integration.

Maintaining product quality

Vistara employees have worked hard in the last eight years to build an airline that is appreciated by many in India. But the merger also means that the Vistara brand will have to dissolve to accommodate the growth story of Air India as it embarks on a journey of significant transformation.

But both airlines are keen on taking some of Vistara’s legacy forward in terms of work culture as well as a better product offering to customers. Vistara’s staff is well-versed in running an airline in a corporate environment, and the hope is that Air India will benefit from that following the merger.

Photo: Airbus

Kannan also assured Vistara customers that they could continue expecting the same style of product and services even after the merger, as Air India itself is in the process of upgrading its aircraft cabins and customer service experience.