The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation has okayed Vistara (UK, Delhi International) to launch international routes, the Business Standard has reported.

The full-service carrier, a 51/49 joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines Group, applied for an international permit in June 2018 already, when it crossed the legal threshold of twenty aircraft in its fleet. Vistara currently operates thirteen A320-200s and nine A320-200neo.

In 2016, the Indian government abolished the requirement for airlines seeking international permits to first operate for five years domestically. Vistara launched in 2015 and would not yet have been able to fly abroad under the old rules.

The considerations were delayed by the ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption during the process of granting an international permit to AirAsia India. In order to improve the governance of the process, the government formed a five-member ministerial panel which decided on Vistara's application.

The carrier is reportedly planning to debut international flights with the Delhi International-Colombo International route. It was also intending to fly to Thailand although the number of flights allowed by the bilateral air transport agreement is currently nearly exhausted due to the expansion of LCCs IndiGo Airlines and GoAir.