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Air India receives A320neo and Vistara on track for 2018 overseas debut
February 17th 2017
Air India on Thursday became the latest A320neo operator after it took delivery of the first of 14 aircraft from Kuwait headquartered lessor, ALAFCO. Read More » The delivery also marks India’s first CFM-powered neo, as well as the first neo for ALAFCO from an order for 85 A320neo Family aircraft. The 14 neos will join Air India’s existing fleet of 66 A320ceo Family aircraft.
Separately, Vistara remains on track for launching its first international flights in the second half of 2018, its chief strategy officer, Sanjiv Kapoor, has told Indian media. The carrier has 13 A320s and expects to have 20 by July 2018, the regulatory threshold for overseas flights.
Following initial regional services, Vistara hopes to go long-haul to Europe and the U.S., possibly with B777X-9s or B787-10s from the order book of its parent, Singapore Airlines. Kapoor said Vistara’s performance improved significantly last year, its second year of operations.
Talking to India’s Economic Times, he said economy loads in December averaged more than 94%, with overall loads hovering around 85%, reflecting increased demand for its premium economy and business class products.
“A lot of questions were being asked about premium economy, but that has become a key differentiator for us and a lot of corporates have started asking for premium economy,” he said.
