Singapore Airlines, which currently owns 49% of Vistara, will hold a 25.1% stake in the merged Air India entity. The merger represents another chapter in the evolving story of foreign investment in Indian aviation, following the 2012 liberalization that allowed overseas carriers to acquire up to 49% stakes in domestic airlines.
Just days ago, the Supreme Court ordered the liquidation of all assets of Jet Airways, once India's premier airline, which has been grounded since 2019. After five long years of being unable to service its debts, the court rejected the airline's takeover bid a few days ago. The company's assets are valued at approximately Rs 1,066.75 crore, which includes 6 luxury cars, a Boeing 777-35 aircraft in Amsterdam worth Rs 376.4 crore as of June 2019, spare parts, and various other properties.
Jet Airways also holds about 15,000 sq. meter floor in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex, which is priced at Rs 683 crore, per court documents.
Falling from the sky
In 2007, Air India merged with Indian Airlines with Air India. Since then, several full-service carriers have disappeared: Kingfisher Airlines ceased operations in 2012, while Air Sahara, later known as JetLite after its acquisition by Jet Airways, followed Jet's collapse in 2019.Foreign investments in Indian carriers began with Etihad Airways acquiring a 24% stake in Jet Airways. This was followed by AirAsia's 49% investment in AirAsia India and Singapore Airlines' partnership in Vistara. However, the industry has increasingly shifted toward low-cost carriers, with IndiGo emerging as India's dominant airline.
As of January 2024, data from DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) showed that Indigo dominates Indian skies, with a 62.4% share. This was followed by Air India, which has a 14.7% share. Vistara, which will merge operations with Air India starting tomorrow, holds a 10.3% stake, while Air India Express has a 5.3%.
However, industry experts are now finding that the distinction between full-service and low-cost carriers has become increasingly blurred, with some budget airlines now offering business-class seating.
Full-service carriers traditionally differentiate themselves through inclusive meal services and diverse aircraft fleets. What differentiates full-service carriers (FSC) from low-cost carriers (LCC) is their focus on profitability and reliance on a single revenue source like airport lounge access and loyalty programs. While FSCs rely on network profitability and have multiple income sources, LCCs generally prioritize route profitability and stick to a single, standardized type of aircraft to reduce costs.