Vistara completes trial flights schedule

For the long-term, the airline has decided to lease 20 Airbus A320s, including seven fuel- efficient A320 Neos.

Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture carrier Vistara on Saturday said it has completed the trial flights schedule and is now waiting for its flying licence from the aviation regulator to commence operations.

"We are glad to confirm that we have concluded our proving flights schedule early this morning.

"This was the last and final milestone to be crossed. We now await the AOP to announce our operations," Vistara chief executive Phee Teik said in a statement.

The trial process was carried out in the presence of Directorate General of Civil Aviation officials, it said.

The airline had applied to DGCA for the Air Operator Permit in April and intended to launch services by September.

The New Delhi-based Vistara is jointly held by Tata Sons and SIA with 51 and 49 per cent stake, respectively.

It has already taken the delivery of two Airbus 320s on lease and had initially planned to have five aircraft in its fleet by March next year.

For the long-term, the airline has decided to lease 20 Airbus A320s, including seven fuel- efficient A320 Neos.

Vistara will operate from its base Delhi and fly to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Jammu and Patna in the first year as per its plan submitted to DGCA while applying for the AOP.