Vistara is preparing for international services, with more orders going in – this time for Airbus A320neo family aircraft and Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
First A320neo for Vistara – Image, Airbus
The Airbus side of the order is complex, with a Letter of Intent signed pre-Farnborough. It calls for:
- 13 new A320neo family aircraft (Both A320neo and A321neo)
- 7 further A320neo family options
- 37 leased A320neo family aircraft
This increases the Airbus A320neo family by 50 aircraft (plus 7 options). Vistara will be using CFM LEAP 1-A Engines to power their fleet. The fleet will enter service from 2019 through 2023, with aircraft used to increase Indian Domestic operation and to support the growth of the international operation.
Another Letter of Intent was lodged with The Boeing Company for Boeing 787-9 aircraft, split by
- 6 Firm Orders
- 4 Purchase rights
The 787-9 aircraft are targeted for delivery between 2020 and 2021. These will be powered by twin General Electric GEnx-1B. The airline is profiling these aircraft for medium to long haul missions.
On the order, Vistara CEO, Mr. Leslie Thng, stated
“India’s position as the world’s fastest growing domestic aviation market and its impressive growth in air passenger traffic that has more than doubled over the last decade, makes us confident of our aggressive plans for domestic expansion and international foray. These orders are a landmark step in Vistara’s journey and demonstrate our deep-rooted commitment to contributing to the rise of the Indian aviation industry and to offering more choices to our customers.”
“We are delighted to further deepen our relationship with Airbus and to join hands with Boeing to strengthen our modern and fuel-efficient fleet that will help achieve our thought-through ambitions.”
Vistara currently operates 21 Airbus A320 family aircraft – split by 13 A320ceo and 8 A320neo.
It’s an interesting step forward for the airline – as it seeks to expand. The equipment choices are unsurprising in many ways, with both families proving their worth in the commercial airspace markets.
How Vistara chooses to enter the international markets will be an interesting thing to watch – as well as its long haul ambitions.
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