June 18, 2018 TnH Global 0

Vistara completes initial aircraft deliveries

India’s Vistara has taken delivery its its 21st aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, completing the first phase of its fleet programme.

Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that the Tata Sons – Singapore Airlines joint venture now operates eight A320neos and 13 A320ceos. They are leased from six lessors, including BOC Aviation, SKY Leasing and Ping An Leasing.

With its 21st aircraft now in its fleet, the carrier has moved one step closer to launching international services. Under India’s aviation regulations, carriers can only apply to operate international routes when they have 20 aircraft and then launch the respective services when their 21st is in its fleet.

Vistara says however that the newest A320neo will be deployed on its domestic network. Chief executive Leslie Thng previously told FlightGlobal that the carrier will place orders for new narrowbody and widebody aircraft by the end of this year as it plots a new aggressive growth phase.

The widebodies he added, will be put on medium-haul flights of between five to nine hours that could “either be Europe or North Asia”.

When its first international route is launched, Vistara will join the likes of Jet Airways, Air India, IndiGo and GoAir operating beyond the Indian subcontinent.