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747-237 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 3:50 pm Post subject:

VT-TTB arrives in BOM after UK890, DEL-BOM.

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747-237 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:02 pm Post subject:

The TOI.com banner today.

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Jeh · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 6:39 pm Post subject:

Never mind Vistara, the Iran Air SP is still flying?!

747-237 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 7:31 pm Post subject:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/boc-aviation-to-deliver-all-13-planes-to-vistara-by-march-2016-115010900885_1.html

BOC Aviation to deliver all 13 planes to Vistara by March 2016

January 9, 2015

Global aircraft leasing company BOC Aviation will deliver 11 more planes by March 2016 to full- service carrier Vistara, which began its operations today.

Singapore-based BOC Aviation's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Robert Martin said it would deliver three more aircraft by end of March this year.

It has already delivered two planes to Vistara.

By March 2016, BOC Aviation would have delivered a total of 13 aircraft to the new carrier, Martin said.
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avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Devesh · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:17 pm Post subject: Vistara cabin pictures

High resolution pictures of the three Vistara cabins.

http://www.bangaloreaviation.com/2015/01/vistara-airlines-cabin-pictures-business-premium-economy-economy.html
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justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

5Patel · Member Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 117

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sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

PAL@YWG · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:11 pm Post subject:

If I am not mistaken, now defunct Air UK (then klmUK) had UK as their IATA code.
I sincerely hope that Vistara will outlive its competitors Smile

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747-237 · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 7:03 am Post subject:

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/452765/vistara-land-more-cities-looks.html

Vistara to land in more cities, looks at South India

Jan 11, 2015

Vistara will jack up its services from February 16 by adding more destinations, including from South Indian cities, besides increasing frequencies to the existing ones.

The airline, the joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, is close to finalising its schedule beyond February 15, its top executives told Deccan Herald, after the launch of its Delhi-Ahmedabad flight on Saturday. Vistara began its operations with a Delhi-Mumbai flight on Friday.

Vistara had consciously decided not to squeeze itself with more number of services in this fog season, for which the schedule has been cleared by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) until February 15. The airline is operating from ‘late in the morning’ and winding up ‘early in the night’ to avoid disruptions during the fog.

With the DGCA now looking at a post-fog season schedule, Vistara is aiming at finalising its choice of destinations. At present, Vistara operates 11 services on Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Ahmedabad sectors.

“India is a big country and I can tell you that some South Indian cities will be there among the new destinations. But I can’t tell you the destinations until I have the slots,” Vistara Chief Commercial Officer Giam Ming Toh said.

“Without a doubt, we will start going to other cities. We will have more from existing (destinations) as well as new destinations,” Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh said.
Though, he feels that what one now sees on schedule is just a tip of the iceberg, he refused to cite all the probable cities, which will be added to the Vistara map.

Giam Ming said that they decided to keep the operations “small” during the fog season. “We built a buffer for fog season. We can stretch the window after the fog season,” he said.

He said that one has to keep in mind the Route Dispersal Guidelines as an airline is mandated to operate a certain number of services to non-metros and under-served destinations when they operate to metros.
The airline’s fleet is also growing with two more aircraft expected by March and one by April, taking the total to six. Another three aircraft will also be added by the year-end.

On Ahmedabad being the third destination, Phee said that they will look at the potential market for deciding on it. Operating to a new destination involves a lot of factors and not a single variable that makes it work, he said.
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A2A · Member Joined: 19 Aug 2012 Posts: 55 Location: BOM

http://livefromalounge.boardingarea.com/2015/01/10/review-uk-890-delhimumbai-vistara-economy/
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Caliguy · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:54 pm Post subject:

So do people really think UK can fill 16 first class seats on India domestic routes? Fly a lot in the US and even here, 16 seats is normally 8 paid and 8 upgraded. Maybe DEL-BOM needs 16 but the rest? I really hope they start giving free upgrades to their high tier status fliers. In India status matters and this is a great and cheap way to hold business travelers. Even is they don't allow upgrades on the lowest fare class, just a reasonable one to ensure most business travelers can qualify.

GF1011 · Member Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 87

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

747-237 · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2015 9:42 am Post subject:

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Aiel · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 927 Location: Bangalore

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

In a highly price-sensitive market like India, I don't see the need for a PY service, or a full meal service on short haul flights.

It remains to be seen if the Indian flyer does too. At the end of the day, would you rather pay less for a 1.5 hour flight and fly IndiGo, or pay significantly more for full service including a half decent meal on Vistara?

Guess 2015 will tell us.

Caliguy · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 12:16 am Post subject:

Agreed Prem Econ domestic in India is not needed unless its just extra leg room a la domestic US fling (econ comfort etc). Where Prem Econ makes sense to India is long haul (especially to US and UK) and to ME from BOM (as a way to even get $50 bucks more for those snobs that won't sit with labor but can't afford J

mayankarora1411 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2013 Posts: 35

Premium Economy is a new thing.
-Opportunity cost is not as high. You see, three (first row, two emergency exit rows) of those rows with extra leg room anyway had to have extra room on them even if it was Economy Class, now they are asking for a minimum of 1.5*Economy Fare here.
-Think about those Middle Level managers whose company can't afford to send them by Business (specially after '08 recession, cost cuts). Premium Economy can be an upgrade for them.
-Monopoly in the Premium Economy segment: And if this is the only airline that offers it, it can fill the few seats offered, because anyone who wants an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy has no option but this.
-If you book last minute Economy from DEL-BOM, it can cost even 13K at times, why not book in advance (wherever possible) and fly Premium Economy at just 9K. Customers remember the times they paid 13K for a ticket and may see it as a value buy at 9K. Remember that value is always the perceived value.
-Differentiation strategy: Dairy Milk Silk is not a huge upgrade from Dairy Milk, but it does very well.
Breaking demand into three segments makes it easier to fill up. 96+36+16 is easier to fill than 144+16 or 162+8 or 186.
If you look only at Economy Class, its like an All Economy E-190 doing the route (much easier to fill up).

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Vistara's Premium Economy is certainly a new offering, though shockingly enough, Air India had been the first to try it out, nearly a year before, oddly, on the Delhi – Guwahati – Imphal – Guwahati – Delhi (AI889/AI890) sectors.
As of now, this heavily patronised route (the DEL-GAU segments, at least) is back on an A321, with the standard J offering.
When it was offered in Feb'14:
This was more Euro-style Business class-like, with the middle seat left vacant. While the plane itself was an all-Y A320 (meaning one of the older double bogey A320s with the V2500 engines), the perks included
- liberal fare rules
- 35kg free baggage(wow! so the proverbial kitchen sink can also go in)
- J class privileges (separate check-in, lounge access, priority baggage, J class service on-board)
- More mileage

The link is here:
http://www.airindia.in/premium-economy.htm

I wonder how well this was patronised, if at all. Scheduling constraints, perhaps had put an all-Y A320 on the route, and I guess with typical J demand on the route (in low single digits, if I am not wrong), AI sought to have a J-like product at a smaller cost. The Y demand on this sector is quite high, and it is an A321 now, with 6J seats.
Cheers, Sumantra.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:57 am Post subject:

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/Bpl8Bl8afbz2jnS7O9AVbL/Vistara-to-start-flights-to-south-northeast-India.html

Vistara to start flights to south, north-east India

Jan 21 2015

Vistara will start flights to south and north-east India over the next few weeks as part of the airline’s second phase of expansion.

Vistara, which operates three aircraft, will expand to six by April.

It has been cleared to launch flights to Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune and Guwahati, according to a person with knowledge of the subject. The person declined to be named.

Most of these flights will be launched from its hub in Delhi.

“Delhi-Mumbai flights will be increased from three to five both ways and there will be an additional Mumbai-Ahmedabad flight,” said a Vistara spokesperson without giving details on the new routes.

The Tata airline is also likely to fly to Bagdogra in West Bengal for which DGCA clearances have been secured. An announcement is likely to be made by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee soon, according to a second person aware of the situation who also declined to be named.

Vistara’s spokesperson confirmed it “is looking at Bagdogra” but declined to say when the airline will start flights.

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747-237 · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:41 pm Post subject:

Vistara to increase flight operations from Feb 16

http://www.economylead.com/industry/aviation/vistara-increase-flight-operations-feb-16-50308
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The_Goat · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:48 pm Post subject:

How have the loads been on Vistara in the past two weeks?

Does anyone know?
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I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl

star*gold · Member Joined: 29 Jan 2009 Posts: 187

If they start requiring Tata employees to use Vistara, there is going to be some guaranteed filling of seats...

747-237 · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:16 am Post subject:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/vistara-to-add-goa-and-hyderabad-in-its-domestic-network/articleshow/45998390.cms

Vistara to add Goa and Hyderabad in its domestic network

24 Jan, 2015

Vistara Friday announced the addition of Goa and Hyderabad to its domestic network, a day after it announced an increase in number of flights.

According to the airline, flights to new destinations will start from Feb 20 and March 1, respectively.

The company, which initially started operations with 68 flights weekly, will operate 164 flights a week by March, 2015.

"Vistara has received an overwhelming response since its launch and we are delighted to announce the expansion of our network with flights from Delhi to Hyderabad and Delhi to Goa," said Phee Teik Yeoh, chief executive, Vistara.

"Both these cities offer huge potential in terms of passenger traffic. With the introduction of our new flights, we are in a strong position to enhance domestic air connectivity and provide the seamless and personalized Vistara experience to more customers in India."

The airline added that the airline will have a fleet size of five aircraft by March and will soon announce the addition of more destinations.

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abhijith16 · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 7:32 am Post subject:

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

The_Goat · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:21 pm Post subject:

Surprising that HYD gets online even before BLR/MAA.

Reckon AI will lose out here.
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I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

The_Goat · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 4:11 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

The_Goat · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2015 5:28 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:15 pm Post subject:

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/fortnight-after-launch-vistara-load-factors-among-lowest-115012600475_1.html

Fortnight after launch, Vistara load factors among lowest

January 26, 2015

Business Standard has learnt from several industry sources that since the start on January 9, the airline is recording passenger load factors (PLFs), a measure of capacity utilization, of about 55%. This is across six daily flights in the busiest domestic sector, Delhi-Mumbai, and two daily flights (barring Sundays) each in the Delhi-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Ahmedabad sectors.

Vistara's PLF is sharply lower than the January average PLF on Delhi-Mumbai of 80-85% across airlines such as IndiGo, Jet Airways and Air India, and an average PLF across the network of 79-80% for the month.

Vistara on most days is struggling to get above 50-55% load factors. In general 6E (IndiGo) and 9W (Jet Airways) now tend to have the highest (load factors) in the high 70s and low 80s, followed by SpiceJet and GoAir. Air India is next in line, a top airline executive said. With the lean travel season beginning in January, maintaining high PLFs will be a challenge for all airlines, with subsequent high discounts also affecting yields.

Asked for details on the airline's performance in the past few days, a Vistara spokesperson said that the average PLF across the past few weeks has been 25% for Business class, 35% for Premium Economy and 70% for Economy. With 16 business class seats, 36 in premium economy and 96 in economy, the average PLF across seat categories comes out to 56%, as per the company data. For a quick comparison though, business class PLF varies from 55% in Air India to 75% in Jet Airways, other airline executives said.

Low PLFs have also forced Vistara to enter the fare wars right after taking off. After rivals Air India and Jet Airways cut fares by about half earlier this month, Vistara followed suit soon after. From charging Rs 1,000 premium over rivals with a Rs 7,500 fare for a Delhi-Mumbai one-way economy class ticket (booked a week before launch), one-way fares on the sector are now down to about Rs 5,500.

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GF1011 · Member Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 87

747-237 · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:23 pm Post subject:

Nimish · Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 10:27 pm Post subject:

^^ Kind of normal to see the low load factors I guess, it's a network effect, and UK has not offered any kind of FFP status match either. It's a combination of a good network, and an effective status match that should see them increase their loads/ yields significantly. Otherwise with 9W and Ai upping their game, there's little reason to dump your status/ loyalty and go vanilla with a limited network airline.
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