Vistara launches daily Mumbai-Dubai flights—here’s what’s next

The airline is planning its Europe debut next year, even as it spreads its wings across India and Asia
Some Vistara flights will soon have inflight WiFi
Some Vistara flights will soon have in-flight WiFi

Vistara on Wednesday inaugurated its second international sector with daily flights between Mumbai and Dubai. UK201 will depart from Mumbai at 4.25pm, and arrive at Dubai at 6.15pm; on return, UK202 will leave Dubai at 7.15pm, landing in Mumbai at 12.15am the next day. The airline is operating the flight on its newly inducted Airbus A320neo, in a three-class cabin configuration, including premium economy.

An afternoon departure from Mumbai's T2. Photo: Shraddha Chowdhury

"We're very excited to start our service to Dubai, a city that's home to millions of Indians, place of business for many Indian corporations and is also the most preferred holiday destination for so many people. Now Dubai also has India's best airline that's committed to making a mark in global aviation with a world-class product and gold-standard service," Vistara CEO Leslie Thng said on the occasion.

The menu on Premium Economy. Photo: Shraddha Chowdhury

Eyes on Europe, Australia

Through codeshare partnerships with British Airways, Japan Airlines, Silk Air and United Airlines, the carrier is hoping to push its boundaries. "Phase 1 of our strategy has us looking at expanding to Europe and North Asia," Thng said. "Once successful here, we will look at Australia and North America. That's Phase 2."

Thng added that Vistara hopes to begin operations to Europe by 2020, for which it is acquiring six Boeing 787 Dreamliners. "For an airline just about five years old, it's an ambitious plan to want to start long-haul, wide-body operations," the CEO said. "The suspension of Jet Airways operations created a vacuum, and we can offer an attractive alternative. Europe has always been part of our strategy, and we're looking at London seriously. Vistara should be able to fly to at least three European destinations in three to five years."

"We will eventually look at Kerala (to start flight operations to Dubai from the state), but we also have to look at the market segment we cater to."

But first, Asia

Vistara operated its first international flight to Singapore on 6 August; on 27 August, it will take off for Bangkok, its third international destination. It has lined up two more international routes to South Asian cities this year, and another by March 2020. Along the way, Vistara has slated four new domestic routes by the end of the year 2019.

Vistara currently operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800s (leased from the fleet of Jet Airways). By December, the carrier will have nine new Airbus A320neos and its fleet will grow from 30 to 41. It has placed an order for another 56 aircraft, 50 of which are narrow-bodied Airbus A320neos to fly short-haul, while the A321s will cater to medium-haul routes. Vistara is also bringing in Boeing 737-9s to service long-haul routes. A bulk of these aircraft will be allocated for domestic routes. "Domestic expansion is equally important to global expansion. We need this for our international market to grow."