The major airlines typically brand the regional partner under its own name apart from selling its ticket by way of code-sharing agreements. For example, we may give regional aircraft the name -- Vistara Express. In the US, most of the major airlines sub-contract short and medium-haul routes to regional airlines, which connect low density smaller cities with the larger ones. Additionally, the flight schedules and other important activities like check-in and baggage handling is also synced as per the needs of the major airline. Vistara, the airline jointly owned by the Tatas and Singapore Airlines, is mulling using smaller aircraft to connect regional airports with its metro hubs, similar to the business model of some airlines in the US and Europe.

Source: dna July 14, 2016 02:15 UTC