Full-service carrier Vistara is likely to launch non-stop flights to London and Japan next year when wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft join its fleet.
Last week, the airline launched its maiden international flight between Delhi and Singapore. It has also announced flights to Bangkok and Dubai, which will commence operations later this month.
“In the first phase of our international expansion, we will connect destinations in Asia and Europe with non-stop flights. In the second phase, we plan to connect the U.S. and Australia,” Vistara CEO Leslie Thng told reporters at an event held to mark the launch of its first international flight. He added that the airline was seriously looking at operating flights to London Heathrow and Tokyo.
The airline will first connect destinations where it already has codeshare partnerships with other carriers such as Japan Airlines and British Airways.
Over time, it plans to connect passengers to 44 destinations in 10 countries through codeshare. With 22 aircraft until March 2019, Vistara will expand its fleet twofold to reach 41 aircraft by the end of 2019. This includes nine Boeing 737-800 NG, previously leased by Jet Airways, and 10 A321neos.
Vistara will take delivery of nine A320neos between September and December, which will allow it to fly up to Hong Kong and southern Europe. A Boeing 787-9 each will join the fleet in March and April 2020 and will enable the airline to fly up to 11 hours. In five years, Vistara aims to deploy 50% of its total capacity on international routes.
On whether it would participate in Air India’s stake sale, Mr. Thng said Vistara was now focussed on growing organically.
(The writer was in Singapore at the invitation of Vistara)
