Spreading Its Wings

Barely five years old, Vistara is living up to its name as it ramps up to fly to distant shores. CEO Leslie Thng put it admirably when he said that to make Vistara the best global airline, it would have to fly to more destinations internationally. AMEYA JOSHI takes a look at the Vistara journey so far.

- Ameya Joshi

Vistara’s CEO, the boyish-looking Leslie Thng is direct and to-the-point. When asked where the best local food was available in Singapore, Thng had one word, “Home.” That is where the best food, the best facilities and the best comforts were available.

Vistara, for Thng, is where home-like hospitality comes together with modern-day convenience – even in a price-conscious regime. So, there are no unappetising meals in foils and packs. Instead, there is real food that is presented on a tray with silverware and a thick napkin tied with a golden string. Add to that comfort and quality onboard and on the ground and what the Indian flier gets is: a memorable Vistara journey.

That journey – for the country’s youngest full-service carrier – reached a milestone on August 6, 2019 when UK 115 took off for Singapore from New Delhi. This was the first international flight of Vistara – the TATA- SIA joint venture which started operations in January 2015. This was also the first time that a private airline started operations before completing five years in the domestic skies – in line with the new rules framed under National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016. And, when the flight reached Singapore, it was a homecoming of sorts — Vistara is part owned by Singapore Airlines. The fledgling had left its nest to conquer distant shores and what better way to start the new chapter than doffing your hat to your second home!

It was on August 11, 2014, that the unnamed airline got a name: it would be called Vistara. The name was derived from the Sanskrit word “vistaar” which means limitless expanse. And after five years, the vistaar is happening to foreign shores.