Air India-Vistara merger complete; integrated entity to operate over 5,600 weekly flights
New Delhi (PTI): Marking a major consolidating in the Indian aviation space, Air India on Tuesday said the merger of full service carrier Vistara with itself has been completed and the integrated entity will be operating over 5,600 weekly flights connecting more than 90 destinations.
With the merger, Singapore Airlines will have a 25.1 per cent stake in the enlarged Air India.
"Air India Group has completed the operational integration and legal merger between Air India and Vistara, creating a full-service carrier of scale and marking a significant milestone in the post-privatisation transformation journey. This follows the merger of the Group's low-cost airlines Air India Express and AIX Connect (formerly Air Asia India) on 1 October 2024," a statement said.
Vistara was a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines.
Air India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson said the merger completes the consolidation and restructuring phase of the Air India Group's post-privatisation transformation journey, and is thus a significant milestone.
"Over the past two years, teams across the four airlines have worked closely together and with other stakeholders to ensure that the transition of people, assets, operations and, most importantly, customers, was as seamless as possible," he said.
Tata Group acquired loss-making Air India from the government in January 2022.
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Bihar polls: Elaborate security measures in place for counting of votes on Nov 14
Patna (PTI): Elaborate security arrangements have been made for Friday’s counting of votes polled in the Bihar assembly elections, across 46 centres in 38 districts of the state, officials said.
Schools in Patna will remain closed on Friday in view of the counting exercise, they said.
Bihar had registered a historic voter turnout of 67.13 per cent in the elections to the 243-member assembly in two phases on November 6 and November 11. A total of 7.45 crore voters were eligible to decide the electoral fate of 2,616 candidates.
“Counting arrangements have been made in all the 243 assembly constituencies. The exercise will be conducted by 243 Returning Officers in the presence of 243 Counting Observers and the candidates or their agents.
“A total of 4,372 counting tables, each staffed with one supervisor, counting assistant and micro-observer have been set up. More than 18,000 Counting Agents appointed by the nominees will also oversee the process,” the Election Commission said in a statement.
Counting of votes will commence at 8 am on Friday.
“As per the Commission’s directions, postal ballot counting will begin first, and counting of EVMs will start at 8.30 am,” it said.
“Adequate number of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and personnel of the Bihar Police have been deployed across the state to ensure smooth counting, and prevent any untoward incident,” a senior officer said.
He said 106 companies of security personnel from outside the state have also been deployed.
A poll official said EVMs and VVPATs used in the elections have been sealed inside strong rooms under a double-lock system.
“A two-tier security has been ensured at the counting centres. While the inner tier has been assigned to the CAPF, state police have been deployed at the outer rung. Besides, 24/7 CCTV surveillance and other security provisions are in place,” he added.
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