Summary
- Vistara has reached the milestone of operating over 300 flights a day.
- The airline remains largely independent and has continued to expand its business, including adding new aircraft and important routes.
- Some plans, such as ordering new aircraft and expanding into the US market, have been altered or scrapped in light of the upcoming merger with Air India.
Even as Vistara’s merger with Air India approaches, the airline continues to operate largely as a separate entity. A recent report has highlighted that Vistara has crossed the 300-flights-a-day mark amid steady demand from passengers. There have been some changes in its business strategy due to the forthcoming merger, such as a pause in aircraft orders, but until the deal is inked next year, it’s primarily business as usual for Vistara.
Over 300 flights a day
Vistara’s Chief Commercial Officer, Deepak Rajawat, told Financial Express that the airline recently crossed the 300-flights-a-day mark for the first time in its operational history. This comes as the carrier is most likely less than a year away from integrating its business with Air India. The report quotes Rajawat as saying,
“We have been gradually adding capacity and recently operated 300 flights in a day for the first time since inception on September 1, 2023. We have been observing a steady demand across the network throughout the July-September quarter, which is considered to be a weak period for domestic travel historically.”
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The airline’s network includes 32 domestic destinations and 15 international. Its daily operations are sustained by a fleet of 61 airplanes comprising Airbus A320s, A321s, and Boeing 787s.
Still a separate entity
Even as Vistara and Air India collaborate increasingly, Vistara’s overall business strategy remains largely independent. It has added two Dreamliners to its fleet and important routes such as its London Heathrow service from Mumbai.
Vistara also flew its 50 millionth passenger in July and celebrated the occasion by launching a special campaign – #50MillionFeelings- to capture the airline’s fond memories, emotions, journeys, and experiences in the last eight years. Since then, it has added more than 20 flights to its daily schedule.
Photo: ANAND G IYER | Shutterstock
International operations have been a big part of its recent expansion strategy, and the airline will receive two more Boeing 787s in the coming months, enabling it to add more foreign destinations to its network. Rajawat notes that Vistara currently utilizes 35% of its capacity on international routes and the rest within India.
Some plans have changed
Of course, Vistara has deviated from some of its previous plans, keeping in mind its merger with Air India. For example, it has decided to not order any new aircraft but will continue to honor its existing orders. It still expects a handful of planes, eventually expanding its fleet size to 70.
Another plan that has been scrapped is that of its expansion into the US. Vistara wanted to serve the ever-popular US market with direct flights from India but decided it was too close to merger to go ahead with that plan.
Photo: Airbus
A couple of years ago, Vistara formally applied for DOT permission, which was granted promptly. But its plans were affected due to the non-availability of enough long-haul aircraft to operate these flights. Now that it has gradually built its widebody fleet, the merger is too close to pursue that ambition.
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Source: Financial Express