Vistara (UK, Delhi International) took delivery of its first A321-200NX(LR) on February 4, 2023, becoming the first operator of the type in India.
VT-TVG (msn 11138) was delivered directly from Hamburg Finkenwerder to Delhi International and joins the carrier's existing fleet of five A321-200NX and forty-two A320-200Ns. Vistara also operates three B787-9s and three B737-800s, taken over from Jet Airways (JAI, Mumbai International) after its grounding as an interim solution and due to be retired as more A320neo Family jets arrive.
The full-service carrier, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines Group, recently said it would not place any orders pending the completion of its proposed merger with Air India (AI, Delhi International), also owned by Tata Sons. However, it plans to honour its existing commitments, which will see its fleet grow to 70 aircraft by mid-2024. The airline's existing order book comprises a further four B787-9s and nine A320neo on firm order from the manufacturers, alongside additional A320neo and A321neo on orders from lessors. Chief Executive Vinnod Kannan told the PTI news agency that by mid-2024, the airline's A320neo Family fleet would grow to fifty-three A320neo and ten A321neo. Four of the latter will be LR variants, Vistara told ch-aviation.
The airline said it was planning to induct the aircraft into service "at the earliest".
In the fourth quarter of 2022, the airline posted its first-ever quarterly net profit, excluding foreign currency gains and non-operating income. However, as a privately-held carrier, it did not disclose exact figures.
