The Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA gave a nod to the merger of AIX Connect, earlier known as AirAsia. With Air India Express. This effectively comes into play on October 1, 2024.
Airline operations of all combined aircraft have been brought under a single AOC. Namely AIX Connect, for the smooth and safe operation of combined entity airline operations.
DGCA Director General Vikram Dev Dutt said this successful merger sets new benchmarks for airline consolidation. “This has all been made possible by strategic regulatory oversight in the aviation industry. Thus, this merger will lead to the creation of an even more resilient. And innovative airline that can hold its own in the global market,” he said.
The no-objection certificate by the DGCA essentially certifies that the merger will be in the public interest. Ensuring safety in air operations and at the same time improving the travel experience. Lessons learned from this merger will come in handy when the consolidation of Air India. And Vistara proceeds with this integration work, currently underway.
The merger had a lot of complicated processes, such as aircraft integration, pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and operational systems. For all these compliances required, the DGCA played an important role in ensuring all aspects of regulatory. They met safety requirements.
Normally, when two airlines merge their systems, the process would ground the fleet during the aircraft transfer. This may lead to inconvenience to passengers. In order to avoid this problem, DGCA has interacted with all stakeholders and started wide discussions for a complaint procedure.
The DGCA constituted a project team to maintain safety at a high level during the merger. This team coordinated actions with a view to securing regulatory approvals in due time. The approval process includes organizational structures, smooth transfer of aircraft, and personnel, and safeguarding ongoing operations for their safety.
The merger required the team to achieve a balance of facilities, personnel, procedures, and fleet assets at each location. The DGCA also reviewed personnel requirements necessary for the appropriate training of the workforce as indicated by the expanded fleet. This step is critical for maintaining safety and operational efficiency.
Additionally, they scrutinized the aircraft lease agreements. And insurance documents to ensure conformity with aviation regulations at home and abroad. To do it timely, the DGCA instituted a live tracker to track the progress at each given time, which will also enable senior management to review on a continuous basis its progress and timelines.
DGCA would continue to keep a close watch on post-merger operations. So as to ensure that all the regulatory conditions are continuously met. For the protection of consumer interests and the continued safety of air operations in India.
ANI