Vistara (UK, Delhi International) will configure some of the narrowbody aircraft it is due to take over the next three years in a single-class, all-economy layout, Chief Executive Leslie Thng told India's PTI news agency.
"We have factored in the operational challenges that may arise from having different fleets and are confident of successfully steering through them," he said.
A joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines Group, the full-service airline currently operates most of its aircraft in a three-class layout with business, economy premium, and economy classes. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, all thirteen of its A320-200s are equipped with eight business class seats, 24 economy premium seats, and 132 economy seats. Eighteen out of nineteen A320-200neo have the same configuration, while eight B737-800s taken over from Jet Airways (JAI, Mumbai International) have 12 business class seats and 156 economy class seats. The only aircraft outfitted with an all-economy layout is A320neo VT-TNN (msn 7560), which is deployed by the airline from Delhi International to Ranchi and Udaipur.
Thng did not name any specific routes on which the future all-economy class aircraft would be used other than saying that these will be either thinner, year-round routes or seasonal leisure services. He also did not specify how many the airline will take.
"It is important to note that the three-class cabin configuration is one of Vistara's strongest USPs and we have every intention of offering it on as many routes as possible. We are not going to operate our all-economy aircraft under a sub-brand with a different business model," Thng added.
Vistara has a further thirteen A320neo on firm order from Airbus but expects to take more aircraft from lessors, including its first A321-200neo. The incoming A320neo Family jets will replace the ex-Jet Airways B737-800s.
