MUMBAI - Frequent flyers will have mixed reactions to news of the proposed merger between Air India and Vistara, both carriers now within the Tata fold.
Airlines, which took huge hits in the months of the Covid lockdowns and continue to feel the brunt of increased prices of aviation fuel because of the Ukraine war, are of course entitled to some consideration. If the involvement of the Southeast Asian carrier leads to an improvement of services, while funding much-needed acquisitions, this is welcome.
While conceding that the group inherited several problems, including lackadaisical staff attitudes, there is little excuse for shoddy aircraft being released for operation, especially on international routes.