The CEO of Vistara (UK, Delhi International) has provided some clarity regarding fleet composition ahead of the airline's impending merger with Air India (AI, Delhi International). That merger, planned to finalise in the first half of next year, will see the Vistara brand disappear. When that happens, CEO Vinod Kannan says Vistara will contribute 70 aircraft to the enlarged Air India entity.
Speaking to India's Zee News, Kannan says 10 of those aircraft will be A321neo, 53 will be A320-200Ns, and seven will be B787-9s. Kannan said Vistara is presently operating 54 aircraft, including forty two A320neo, six A321neo (including A321-200NX and A321-200NX(LR)s), two B737-800s, and four B787-9s.
Between now and the merger finalising, Vistara will acquire four A321neo, eleven A320neo, and three B787-9s, while the two surviving B737-800s will go back to their lessor, BOC Aviation. Kannan says among the Airbus narrowbodies, ten aircraft will be single class, while the remaining 53 narrowbodies will feature Vistara's typical three-cabin configuration. The B787-9s will be used on international sectors. Kannan has said he is keen to keep growing the international network ahead of the merger. This includes launching additional flights to Europe later this year.
