Vistara’s potential Air India buy will be a win-win

Vistara Chairman Bhaskar Bhat’s statement on Monday that Vistara is evaluating bidding for Air India could be the best thing that could happen to the State-owned airline.

Air India was started by JRD Tata, and if Vistara were to bid and emerge the winner, it will be beneficial for a number of reasons.

Vistara is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. So Vistara winning the bid will see Air India return to Tata Sons. For Singapore Airlines also, it will be the culmination of its failed attempts to acquire Air India. Singapore Airlines had earlier tied up with the Tatas to acquire Air India when the Vajpayee government was looking to divest the airline.