Ready for takeoff: SIA and Tata set to launch new airline in October

The first aircraft will come in by September.

The much-talked about joint venture between Singapore Airlines and India’s Tata Group is about to bear fruit. The airlines yesterday unveiled the brand name of its new airline ‘Vistara’, and said it is expected to launch operations by October with the first aircraft coming in by September.

A Memorandum of Understanding between SIA and Tata Sons was first revealed in September 2013. Vistara will be based in New Delhi and will operate under the full-service model. Tata Sons will own 51% and Singapore Airlines will own 49%.

“We are in the last lap of the process of securing the Air Operator Permit (AOP of flying licence). There are a series of approvals which we have to get to the satisfaction of DGCA,” said Phee Teik Yeoh, the CEO of the start-up full-service airline Vistara.

Yeoh was speaking at a ceremony to launch the new brand name, the logo and livery of the airline, along with Tata-SIA Airlines Chairman Prasad Menon and Board Directors Mukund Rajan and Swee Wah Mak.

Asked about the route network of the new airline, the CEO said “we are close to finalising our route network. It will cover cities having a clear demand for full-service airline”, but declined to share details