Looks like Vistara will not be starting US routes any time soon with the Air India merger approaching faster than anticipated. Air India’s privatization and the subsequent rejigging plans of the airlines under the Tata Group have impacted Vistara’s route to US flights.
Vistara was always keen on operating on the ever-popular US route, and had applied for US DOT permission in 2021. Naturally the permission was immediately granted. But the airline didn’t have enough long-haul planes to execute its plans. The production and delivery delays by Boeing further dented Vistara’s US plans.
Speaking about the scrapped US routes, Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive, Vistara told the Press Trust of India: “The main reason is that to fly to the US, I need a lot of aircraft. One single daily operation from India to the US will need at least three aircraft. I have to wait for three aircraft to come and I don't know it will be spaced out. By the time it will start, the integration will be happening.”
Although US plans might have taken a back seat, but the airline is expanding on other fronts. The airline expects to welcome 10 new planes and hire close to 1,000 employees by the end of this financial year.