Vistara announces significant service expansion with the launch of its new Summer 2016 schedule

New Delhi, March 8, 2016:Vistara, India’s fastest growing full service carrier, announced a 25% increase in flights at the start of summer 2016 schedule, including the launch of new services to Jammu, Srinagar and Kochi (Cochin). Vistara’s rapidly expanding route network will now cover 15 cities as the airline increases its weekly flights from 317 to almost 400 weekly. With the induction of four new Airbus A320 aircraft during the course of the year, the airline will introduce additionalnew destinations and further increase frequency on its existing routes. By the end of October 2016, the total number of flights would have increased by 85% relative to the current schedule.
Starting April 7, 2016, Vistara will offer direct daily return flights from Delhi to Srinagar and from April 9, 2016daily same-aircraft flights from Delhi to Jammu via Srinagar. The direct daily return flights from Mumbai to Kochi, and daily same-aircraft flights from Delhi to Kochi via Mumbai will commence from April 14, 2016. The new summer schedule has 17 city pairs connected through direct (non-stop) flights; 16 additional city pairs connected through‘via’ flights such as Mumbai to Varanasi, Lucknow and Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru to Guwahati; and over 40 additional single-stop travel options through connecting flights such as Srinagar to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar and Lucknow to Pune and Hyderabad (all via Delhi). Flights and connections on the new schedule will be open for sale through all channels this week.
With a focus on enhancing its connectivity in key metros, Vistara will also beincreasing the frequency of its existing Delhi-Bengaluru service, offeringconvenient same-day return options to customers in both cities.
Speaking on the latest network expansion, Mr. PheeTeik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara said,“With growing market presence and phenomenal customer uptake, we plan to double our domestic capacity this year byoffering more flights, destinations and increased frequencies to our growing loyal customer base.The addition of Jammu, Srinagar and Kochi to our route network coupled with the introduction of convenient same-day return flights on Delhi – Bengaluru in both directionsand several new via and connecting flight options,represent the first phaseof our growth plan this summer as we ramp up utilization and add new aircraft to our fleet. We believe that thesewill help usfurther broaden the appeal of Vistara to our business and leisure customersalike across our network.”
This latest network expansion coincides with the airline’s next phase of growth.With the aim to further transform the flying experience in India, Vistara last week revamped its in-flight food and beverage menu. The airline will soon inaugurate its signature lounge at the boarding gate level at Delhi International Airport and introduce thestate-of-the-artIFE solution that will enable wireless streaming of high quality audio-video content to smartphones, iPads and other PEDs of Vistara customers on-board.
Flights to the new sectors added in the Summer Schedule: