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Tag: Vistara

  • Singapore Airlines, Silkair and Vistara to expand codesharing to international flights

    Singapore Airlines, Silkair and Vistara to expand codesharing to international flights

    Passengers traveling with Singapore Airlines (SIA), Silkair and Vistara will have more international flight options as the Singaporean flag carrier and its regional arm, Silkair, signed an agreement with Indian carrier Vistara to expand codesharing to international routes.

    Under the expansion of an existing codeshare agreement which covers Indian domestic flights, SIA and Silkair will add nine new codeshare destinations within India on Vistara-operated flights. The following destinations will be added: Chandigarh, Dibrugarh, Jammu, Leh, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Siliguri and Srinagar. SIA will add its ‘SQ’ designator code to Vistara’s new international flights.

    Vistara will add its ’UK’ designator code to SIA and Silkair-operated flights between Singapore and eight destinations in India, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. As part of the arrangement, Vistara will codeshare on services to more than 40 destinations from Singapore to Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and the US.

    “These codeshares will be implemented in phases and are subject to regulatory approvals,” reads a press release from the airline.

    “We’re happy to deepen this strategic partnership which means a more seamless flying experience for travelers from India to destinations across Asia, Oceania and the United States,” said Vistara’s chief strategy officer Vinod Kannan.

    The codeshare flights will progressively be made available through SIA and Vistara booking channels once necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, according to the airline.

    Vistara is a joint venture between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Indian company Tata Sons. It will begin its first international flights by offering daily flights to Singapore from Delhi and Mumbai operated by a Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, starting 6 and 7 August respectively.

    Earlier this year, Vistara signed a codeshare agreement with United Airlines. This agreement expanded the US carrier’s network to over 20 destinations throughout India. Over the past two years, Vistara has also signed codeshare deals with Japan Airlines, British Airways, as well as Singapore Airlines and Silk Air.

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  • AirAsia, Vistara cash in on crisis-hit Jet Airways slots

    AirAsia, Vistara cash in on crisis-hit Jet Airways slots

    Tata-group owned airlines AirAsia India and Vistara have announced 11 new flights from Mumbai after the airport operator released unused slots belonging to Jet Airways. The slots have been released to the airlines on a temporary basis.

    Private airport operators in Mumbai and Delhi and the Airports Authority of India have held several rounds of discussions with other airlines to fill up the capacity shortage caused due to grounding of Jet Airways fleet. While reduction of flights led to a hike in fares, it affected airports too. Fewer flights means lower revenue by way of landing fees and less passenger footfalls

    Over 70 per cent of the airline’s fleet has been grounded, leading to massive cancellations. Jet has been a dominant carrier in Mumbai and its daily departures are down to 24 from the earlier 140. Delhi airport, too, is finalising the issue of slots belonging to Jet.

    Other private airlines also have been offered slots by Mumbai airport but are yet to announce new flights. Schedule changes depend upon aircraft utilisation and availability of pilots among other things. A source said airlines were advised to operate flights on routes flown by Jet prior to its crisis with a view to maintain capacity on routes.

    On Thursday, Vistara announced launch of five flights between Mumbai and Bengaluru and one new flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad and Kolkata. These would operate from April 16 to July 15. Currently, Vistara flies to Delhi and Amirtsar from Mumbai and its market growth has been stunted due to non-availability of slots.

    Vistara will be reducing frequencies on other routes to operate these additional services from Mumbai.

    AirAsia India announced three additional flights to Bengaluru and a new flight to Kochi from Mumbai, beginning April 15. The airline did not mention until which date these flights would remain in operations.

    “There is precedence for grant of slots on a temporary basis. During SpiceJet crisis, its unused slots were temporarily given to other airlines and IndiGo was the main beneficiary that time,” said aviation expert Ameya Joshi.

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  • AirAsia probe may ground Vistara international flights

    AirAsia probe may ground Vistara international flights

    Vistara, the joint venture airline of Tata Sons Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA), may face the cascading effect of an ongoing probe into AirAsia India’s operations. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-led probe into AirAsia India, in which Tata Sons own a 49% stake, may be forcing the government to withhold permission sought by Vistara to start international flights, two people familiar with the matter said.

    AirAsia India is being investigated by the central agency for allegedly lobbying the government for international flight permits and violating rules that prevent foreign airlines from controlling an Indian operator.

    According to the people cited above, Vistara had applied in June for rights to start international flights, after it took the delivery of its 20th aircraft, and was hoping to fly out from October. The deadline has now been moved to December, Vistara chief executive Leslie Thng said in July.

    “With the general elections coming up next year, bureaucrats may be wary of granting Vistara overseas flight permits in the backdrop of CBI investigating another airline,” one of the two people mentioned above said.

    CBI had in May raided the offices of AirAsia India and filed a complaint against Tony Fernandes, chief executive of the company’s Malaysian parent. Fernandes has rebutted the charges.

    Airlines were earlier required to fly for at least five years on domestic routes, and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before being allowed to fly international. Now, they can fly just by having 20 aircraft in its fleet or 20% of total capacity (in term of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations, according to the new civil aviation policy.

    Vistara became eligible to fly international in June when it added its 20th plane. The same month, it submitted a list of potential overseas destinations to the government.

    However, the civil aviation ministry is yet to clear Vistara’s proposal. “Once cleared, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will also have to clear the airline to fly international. But, the file hasn’t moved from the ministry yet,” one of the two people mentioned above said.

    Civil aviation secretary R.N. Choubey did not respond to an email.

    A Vistara spokesperson said, “We await necessary approvals from the authorities and aim to start our international operations by end of this year. Vistara’s expansion plans are on course at present.”

    Vistara, which started operations in 2015, has a fleet of 22 Airbus A320s. The airline, which had listed out a plan to fly to destinations like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Thailand and other neighbouring countries, according to reports, may have seen rivals grab some of these routes in recent days.

    For instance, GoAir recently launched flights on Delhi-Phuket route, while Jet Airways will start flights on Pune-Singapore route from 1 December. Yet, Vistara is willing to wait it out to begin its international operations, the first person quoted in the story said.

    Vistara, in July, announced its decision to order 19 planes worth $3.1 billion from Airbus SE and Boeing Co. It plans to lease 37 new A320neo planes.

    The letter of intent with Airbus includes a firm order for 13 A320neo and A321neo jets, as well as options for seven more aircraft from the A320neo family. Another 37 new A320neo-family planes will be added from leasing companies.

    The Boeing order includes six firm-ordered 787-9 Dreamliner and purchase rights for four more from the 787 Dreamliner family.

    “The aircraft purchase will help Vistara expand both within and outside India and on all routes that this aircraft could support us on,” Vistara’s chief executive Leslie Thng said at that time.

    “For medium to long-haul destinations, we decided that Boeing 787-900 (Dreamliner) would be best for us and would allow us to start medium-haul operations from 2020,” Thng had said.

    “When India’s third FSC (full service carrier) launched, it did so with its eye on the opportunity in the international market. More than three years later Vistara remains a solely domestic carrier, thanks to Indian regulations,” said CAPA India’s Mid-Year Outlook for FY19. “Although the airline technically qualified to operate international services earlier this year when it inducted its 21st aircraft, it is experiencing delays in securing an international flying permit, which is surprising.”

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  • Vistara announces codeshare with Singapore Airlines and Silkair

    Vistara announces codeshare with Singapore Airlines and Silkair

    Singapore Airlines (SIA) and regional subsidiary SilkAir announced today that they have signed an agreement to codeshare on Indian domestic flights operated by Vistara, with effect from today.

    “Under the agreement, SIA will add its ‘SQ’ designator code to Vistara-operated flights beyond Mumbai and New Delhi to 10 destinations within India. SilkAir will add its ‘MI’ designator code to Vistara-operated flights beyond Bengaluru and Kolkata to six destinations within India,”

    SilkAir will add its ‘MI’ designator code to Vistara-operated flights beyond Bengaluru and Kolkata to six destinations within India,” said a release from the airlines.

    The codeshare agreement is Vistara’s first with another airline group, as well as SIA’s and SilkAir’s first with an India-based domestic carrier. As a result of the agreement, four new destinations will be added to the SIA Group’s India network, namely Bhubaneswar, Goa, Guwahati and Port Blair. SIA Group airlines currently serve 15 destinations in India from Singapore, the release added.

    This partnership would also contribute to Vistara’s topline by bringing in passengers on to its network.“As we continuously work towards eventually becoming a globally renowned airline, codeshare partnerships will play a very important role in helping us get closer to realizing that aspiration. Customers booked on any of the classes on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will find an equally world-class experience when they travel within India, given Vistara’s service and operational excellence,” Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara was quoted in the release.

    Members of SIA’s and Vistara’s frequent flyer programmes, KrisFlyer and Club Vistara, will also enjoy additional tier benefits as a result of the new codeshare partnership. PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members will enjoy lounge access, increased baggage allowance, and priority baggage handling, check-in and boarding when travelling on Vistara-operated flights. Likewise, Club Vistara Platinum and Gold members will enjoy the same benefits when travelling on SIA- operated flights. PPS Club and KrisFlyer members will also earn Elite miles when travelling on SIA codeshare flights operated by Vistara.

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  • Starbucks India helping Tata Group internationally

    Starbucks India helping Tata Group internationally

    Strengthening their partnership, Coffee retailer Starbucks India is helping lift international exposure for India’s Tata Group brands.

    Starbucks is introducing Tata’s single-origin coffee in the US and its mineral water in Singapore, and helping develop a signature Indian tea blend. In return, Tata group is introducing Starbucks coffee on Vistara flights and launching its specialty tea brand Teavana in India.

    Starbucks will sell single-origin, premium coffee from India at its Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room in Seattle, says chairman/CEO Howard Schultz said after meeting Tata chairman Cyrus Mistry at the iconic store. Starbucks will be opening a similar outlet in Shanghai next year.

    Tata-Starbucks will also introduce Kenyan and Sumatran coffees at Starbucks stores across India, says the company, and Starbucks coffee will be available on Vistara, a full-service airline, later this year. Vistara is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, and has more than 457 flights weekly to 17 destinations.

    Following the success of the tea category in its US stores, Starbucks will extend its Teavana specialty tea brand to India in December. The joint venture is also collaborating on the development of a signature Indian tea blend for Starbucks stores in India.

    India has become Starbucks’ fastest-growing market since the first cafe opened in 2012 in a partnership with Tata Global Beverages. The chain has expanded to 84 locations across six cities.

    The company’s China and Asia-Pacific unit generates about 13 per cent of its total revenue, and Starbucks plans to open about 900 outlets in the region this fiscal year, compared with 700 store additions in the Americas and 200 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It has more than 2000 cafes in China alone and plans about 500 new stores a year in the country.

    Starbucks also plans to expand the availability of Himalayan Mineral Water, bottled by Tata Global Beverages, beyond Starbucks stores in India to Singapore this year. It is also exploring opportunities to introduce the brand to stores across Starbucks China and Asia-Pacific region.