Vistara’s final flight from Kolkata marks end of an era before merger with Air India
Times of India | 12 November 2024
12 Kolkata: The city bid adieu to Vistara as it operated its final flights into and out of Kolkata on Monday before it commences unified operations under the Air India banner from Tuesday.
On Monday, the airline made its last journey out of the airport to Mumbai with an Airbus A320 flight UK776 a little after 9 pm. The flight was packed and fliers emotional as they boarded the final flight oprerated by the carrier.
"I have always been a big fan of Vistara Airlines since it began operation in 2016. I loved its service, its inflight meals, inflight entertainment options, and most importantly, the behaviour of the cabin crew and ground staff. I hope they can maintain the same standard even after the merger," said Ashraf Hussein, a resident of Kidderpore who works at an MNC and frequently flies between Kolkata and Mumbai.
Equally emotional was Prashant Agarwal, a chartered accountant who was headed to Bengaluru on another Vistara flight that flew out of Kolkata at 8 pm. "Vistara was my favourite airline because of their promptness and service quality. The service has already started to dip a bit since the merger happened. I just hope once the unified operations begin, it can re-establish its glory," said Agarwal, a resident of Dunlop.
On Monday, the airline had 12 movements between Kolkata and cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Port Blair. On Monday, the last Vistara flight to reach Kolkata was from Mumbai, which had a delayed start and landed at NSCBI airport around 8.45 pm. Both the flights in the last leg were packed, officials said.
"Thank you for being part of this unforgettable journey and showering us with your #VistaraLove. We will forever cherish these memories. Please follow @airindia for all the latest updates," the airline posted on X on Monday as pilots across aircraft making the last journey made inflight announcements about the same and thanked passengers for being part of the experience.
Vistara started service in Kolkata with two daily flights to and from Delhi on June 10, 2016. Following the merger, Air India has implemented comprehensive passenger assistance initiatives to ensure a seamless changeover. All Vistara flights will be listed under a new four-digit Air India code beginning with "2" (e.g., UK 955 becomes AI 2955).
"The flight routes, timings, and amenities will continue unaltered. To support this transition, Air India has established assistance counters at key airports, with staff members donning "How may I assist you?" T-shirts, and has updated international terminal check-in displays," said an airline official.
The shift triggered heartfelt reactions across various social media platforms, with users sharing personal recollections and thoughts about their previous journeys aboard Vistara aircraft.
"From my first flight sometime in 2016 to my last one on October 23, 2024, I still cannot come to terms with how this chapter is coming to an end @airvistara. Thank you for setting the bar so high. There's going to be no one like you," frequent flier Divya Mangotra Manchanda shared photographs of inflight meals, boarding passes, and multiple other moments captured while flying the airline as she posted on X.