Wait ends, Vistara flies from Jan 9

Travellers in India will get to ‘Fly the New Feeling’ as TATA-SIA airline will start operations on January 9, 2015, with Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Ahmedabad and Ahmedabad-Mumbai as its initial routes.

“The wait is over,” these were the ominous words with which, Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, addressed the media as he announced that the fullservice carrier will take off on January 9, 2015, with Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Ahmedabad and Ahmedabad-Mumbai as its initial routes.

Talking about delivering a seamless and personalised travel experience, through a slew of unique products and features to delight customers, Yeoh called Vistara their New Year gift to India, as the airline becomes the first Indian airline to offer premium economy seats to customers. Vistara’s launch comes at a time when things are looking a little bleak for Indian aviation, however, Yeoh is optimistic about the industry and says, “We believe in the immense potential of the aviation market in India, we’ve got what it takes to thrive in this industry and intend to make significant changes. We have a very strong government in the Centre, intent to remove the shackles around the industry. We applaud them for coming out with the draft aviation policy, this shows how serious they are about putting in place an accountable and systematic set of solutions to unleash the potential that Indian aviation is poised to achieve. By 2020, this will be the third largest aviation market in the world.”

The airlines that starts operations from January 9 with two aircraft, plans to get five aircrafts by March and will then scale it up to 20 aircraft in four

We have a wide range of fares that cater to customers from all strata, the pricing will change according to the demand and supply and the value proposition that we are offering to the market Phee Teik Yeoh Chief Executive Officer Vistara

years, following which it will expand the route network accordingly.

Rubbishing comparisons with AirAsia, Yeoh says, “There is no comparison with Air Asia, they’re a low cost airline while we are a world-class full-service airline.”

Talking about the fare structure, Yeoh, says, “We have a wide range of fares that cater to customers from all strata. The pricing will change according to the demand and supply and the value proposition that we are offering to the market. Our value proposition is that of seamless and personalised travel experience never experienced by travellers in India before. We are here to redefine the flying experience in India. Indian travellers are discerning. They look for value. We will offer fares that we strongly believe would be value for money for them.”