Tata-SIA’s Vistara clears last hurdle to launch flights
Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh says the firm now await to receive the AOP to announce its operations
New Delhi:Tata SIA Airlines Ltd new airlines startup Vistara has cleared its last hurdle and is likely to get license to operate flights in India any day now.
“We are glad to confirm that we have concluded our proving flights schedule early this morning. This was the last and final milestone to be crossed. We now await to receive the AOP to announce our operations. We are thankful to the DGCA for all their support during the entire process." Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara said.
The test flights were conducted on Delhi - Mumbai - Ahemdabad - Delhi sector on Friday night finishing their laps by 2:30 am. The officials of Vistara and regulator were onboard the flight.
The to-be-launched full service carrier, in which Tata Sons holds a 51% stake and Singapore Airlines the remaining 49%, is also going slow on inducting aircraft due to the delay in flying permit.
Against its target of five aircraft by March, so far it has taken delivery of only two planes on lease.
The airline was scheduled to take the third aircraft last month but has deferred it owing to the delay in the obtaining AOP. On a long-term basis, the airline has already decided to lease 20 Airbus A320s, including seven fuel-efficient A320 Neos.
Once it launches, Vistara will be the third full service carrier after state-run Air India and Jet Airways.
Vistara will operate from its base Delhi and connect Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Jammu and Patna in the first year, according to the plan submitted to regulator DGCA while applying for the air operator’s permit.
It plans to operate 87 flights in the first year, with five leased Airbus A320s, and then scale it up to 301 flights by the fourth year.
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