Vistara, an India-based joint venture airline between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is planning to introduce several more routes to the Middle East in the coming weeks.
Singapore, Male, and Dubai are among the international destinations covered from Mumbai, while service to Jeddah will begin on August 2. Vistara now operates 53 aircrafts, including two wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners. By the end of 2023, the fleet will have grown to 70 ships.
More short- and long-haul sectors, particularly to Europe are being planned. Vistara now operates flights from Delhi to Frankfurt, Paris, and London. The airline also intends to expand its international operations from Mumbai, mostly to nations in the Gulf where yields are higher. Vistara will acquire four additional Dreamliners, which will be deployed in long-haul sectors between Delhi and Mumbai. Narrow-body aircraft, namely the A321neo, will service the Gulf area.
“Vistara currently operates daily flights between Mumbai and Dubai, and we will be starting thrice-weekly flights between Jeddah and Mumbai from August 2. We are evaluating many other destinations in the region and will be launching new routes in due course,” said Vinod Kannan, the chief executive officer of Vistara, without disclosing the schedules of the new launches.
Vistara’s CEO said India’s strong Middle East ties boost the region’s importance for carriers. With foreign flights returning, demand for overseas travel is rising steadily. Growth is notable in the UAE and wider GCC region.
Long-distance travelers are increasingly choosing direct, nonstop connectivity in the aftermath of the outbreak. Vistara would concentrate on its product and service features, as well as its brand-new fleet, in order to establish itself as the airline of choice and boost its market share, notably in the UAE and GCC sectors.
