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Tata-SIA joint venture Vistara takes off on Jan 9

SINGAPORE — Singapore Airlines’ Indian joint venture with the Tata conglomerate, Vistara, will start flying from Jan 9, the airlines said.

SINGAPORE — Singapore Airlines’ Indian joint venture with the Tata conglomerate, Vistara, will start flying from Jan 9, the airlines said.

Based in New Delhi, the full-service Vistara will begin operations with a fleet of new Airbus A320-200s with 148 seats, Tata SIA Airlines said in a statement late Thursday.

Singapore Airlines holds a 49 per cent stake in the venture, while Tata has 51 per cent — an arrangement made possible after India’s previous government in 2012 allowed foreign airlines to buy a stake of up to 49 per cent in Indian carriers.

Vistara will offer flights to Mumbai and Ahmedabad initially, it said. Its distribution channel and booking website became operational yesterday.

Vistara announced that it is the first full-service carrier in India to introduce the Premium Economy class and the first to offer a value-based frequent flyer programme called Club Vistara, in which loyalty points are accrued based on actual spending on tickets rather than miles travelled.

Chief executive Phee Teik Yeoh said: “The activation of distribution channels is our first interface with our customer and, with this, we embark on a journey to fulfil our brand promise of a seamless travel experience.”

Tata and Singapore Airlines announced the plan to launch Vistara in September, adding a deep-pocketed player to a fast-growing but competitive Indian aviation sector. AGENCIES

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