Vistara to add 12 jets by March-end
NEW DELHI: Vistara will add a dozen planes next year to supplement a fleet of 42 by March-end, with which it aims to create a unique “hub-and-spoke” arrangement linking its domestic and international operations, chief executive Leslie Thng said.
The fleet expansion will see the induction of Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner), and Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft into the airline’s fleet, which will be utilised across its domestic and international operations. In aviation terminology, a hub refers to a central airport that flights are routed through, and spokes are the routes that planes take out of the hub airport.
Vistara, a full-service airline that is jointly owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines Ltd, will start medium- and longhaul international services from next summer after it takes delivery of two Boeing Dreamliner planes by March 2020.
The airline plans to add destinations to Europe, including London, as well as Japan to its network. It also aims to add several neighbouring countries in the region, wherein travellers often look for direct connections to various Indian cities.
“Domestic operations play two roles for us. One is catering to the full-service demand and second is catering to the international operations, especially on the wide body,” Vistara’s Thng said.
“Other airlines will not be able to replicate this in India as they focus on a mix (of) nationalities. But, our product is primarily for Indians,” Thng said in an interview on Tuesday. He said Vistara’s business model will allow passengers within India to travel abroad through Delhi or Mumbai as well as from overseas to within the country.
To strengthen the linkage between domestic and international network, Vistara has entered into discussions with a number of foreign airlines.
It already has a code sharing arrangement with United Airlines, Singapore Airlines and an inter-line arrangement with the Lufthansa group.
“We are not going to fly to a dozen destinations in Europe overnight. So we would need partners that will be able to give us connectivity,” Thng said.
The airline currently has 26 Airbus A320 and nine Boeing 737800NG aircraft in its fleet. It will add another six aircraft, taking its fleet size to 42 at the end of 2019.