Vistara eyeing long-haul flights to the US and Europe
Its plans go way beyond flying to just nearby countries where single aisle planes like its fleet of Airbus A-320s or the Boeing 737 can operate to.
By TNN | Updated:
GOA/NEW DELHI: With Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines as its parents, less than two-month-old Vistara has drawn up ambitious overseas network plans to be ready for the impending change in rules for Indian carriers to fly abroad. Termed "Plan B", the airline is eyeing long-haul flights to the west - US and Europe - when the government abolishes the current rule that a local airline must be five-year old and have a fleet of 20 planes to fly overseas.
Its plans go way beyond flying to just nearby countries where single aisle planes like its fleet of Airbus A-320s or the Boeing 737 can operate to. This is the first time after Air India that an India-registered airline has plans for long-haul international flights during the launch phase of overseas flights. "Almost 70% of India's outbound traffic is west-bound. US will be interesting for us, especially routes like New York and Washington. America has Open Sky with India. Once 5/20 goes and the US Federal Aviation Administration upgrades the Indian directorate general of civil aviation, we will like to go there. Many cities in Europe will also be interesting for us. Indian carriers are underutilizing their flying rights for overseas destinations. Why not open up flying abroad for them (without having restriction like 5/20)?" Giam Ming Toh, Vistara's chief commercial officer, told TOI. He said organizing wide-body aircraft operations required for long-haul flights like those to US or Europe will require 12 to 18 months after being allowed to fly abroad.
Except AI, all other Indian airlines started flying abroad by using their single aisle fleet to fly to the Gulf and Southeast Asia in early phases of their overseas launch. Low-cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have only single aisle planes in their fleet that can operate to nearby countries. GoAir, which is set to begin international flights once 5/20 goes, also has only single aisle aircraft. The Federation of Indian Airlines, that includes desi airlines like Jet, IndiGo and GoAir, is opposed to the government move to relax 5/20 as they say this is being planned to benefit the two new airlines - Vistara and Tata-AirAsia.
Vistara has now questioned this opposition. "Incumbents have no serious international ambitions (referring to the low cost airlines operations only to nearby countries and Jet operating a large number of its international flights to Abu Dhabi). The 5/20 rule should go very soon as it does injustice to the country. It not only frustrates Vistara, AirAsia India and the next six airlines (which have been approved by the government), it puts a lid on growth of aviation - stifling growth of trade and business here. Hopefully, we will be able to operate overseas very soon," Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh said.
Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has made it clear that 5/20 will have to go and is finalizing its replacement policy.
Its plans go way beyond flying to just nearby countries where single aisle planes like its fleet of Airbus A-320s or the Boeing 737 can operate to. This is the first time after Air India that an India-registered airline has plans for long-haul international flights during the launch phase of overseas flights. "Almost 70% of India's outbound traffic is west-bound. US will be interesting for us, especially routes like New York and Washington. America has Open Sky with India. Once 5/20 goes and the US Federal Aviation Administration upgrades the Indian directorate general of civil aviation, we will like to go there. Many cities in Europe will also be interesting for us. Indian carriers are underutilizing their flying rights for overseas destinations. Why not open up flying abroad for them (without having restriction like 5/20)?" Giam Ming Toh, Vistara's chief commercial officer, told TOI. He said organizing wide-body aircraft operations required for long-haul flights like those to US or Europe will require 12 to 18 months after being allowed to fly abroad.
Except AI, all other Indian airlines started flying abroad by using their single aisle fleet to fly to the Gulf and Southeast Asia in early phases of their overseas launch. Low-cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have only single aisle planes in their fleet that can operate to nearby countries. GoAir, which is set to begin international flights once 5/20 goes, also has only single aisle aircraft. The Federation of Indian Airlines, that includes desi airlines like Jet, IndiGo and GoAir, is opposed to the government move to relax 5/20 as they say this is being planned to benefit the two new airlines - Vistara and Tata-AirAsia.
Vistara has now questioned this opposition. "Incumbents have no serious international ambitions (referring to the low cost airlines operations only to nearby countries and Jet operating a large number of its international flights to Abu Dhabi). The 5/20 rule should go very soon as it does injustice to the country. It not only frustrates Vistara, AirAsia India and the next six airlines (which have been approved by the government), it puts a lid on growth of aviation - stifling growth of trade and business here. Hopefully, we will be able to operate overseas very soon," Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh said.
Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has made it clear that 5/20 will have to go and is finalizing its replacement policy.
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Text: PTI
Delhi Airport has been adjudged the best, among the world's most performing airports in the 25-40 million passengers per annum category by the Airport Council International (ACI), with Mumbai Airport also figuring in the top five list.
Delhi Airport has been adjudged the best, among the world's most performing airports in the 25-40 million passengers per annum category by the Airport Council International (ACI), with Mumbai Airport also figuring in the top five list.
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