Europe focus point for Vistara as it goes daily Delhi-London

Europe has been flagged as a focus point for Vistara, India's newest full-service carrier which expanded its international offering with daily flights between London and New Delhi this month. The Tata Group and Singapore Airlines joint venture celebrated its daily route connecting Heathrow with the Indian capital, in London on Tuesday with the news that a second flight would be on the cards once more aircraft and slots become available. The Gurugram-headquartered airline welcomed the high load factors it has been enjoying ever since it went daily with its London flights at the beginning of this month. "Internationally, we cover a total of 10 cities, London being the crown jewel which we have ramped up to a daily service this month," Vinod Kannan, CEO, Vistara told reporters at a briefing at Taj Hotel in London. "For now, we are very, very happy with the route, the load factors are very strong. The average load factors are in excess of 80-85 per cent and the frontend cabins are well subscribed. If we did have the aircraft, Europe would definitely be a focus point, probably with a second London-Delhi [flight] if we get the slots, and Paris and Frankfurt would go up to daily. The US is a sector we would look at further down the line," he said. Operating Boeing's 787 Dreamliners on its London route, Vistara like many other airlines is constrained by the supply of the aircraft from the US aerospace major. Kannan revealed that his airline's requirements are for six Dreamliners but is currently operating with just two, with conversations on supply ongoing with Boeing as part of its post-pandemic expansion plans. "The name of the game over the last two years has been flexibility. We planned, re-planned, un-planned like every other airline because everyday things were changing, with varying requirements and necessities. But then after all that we are finally here and what matters is looking ahead, things are looking bright. We are not out of the woods, but there is definitely light at the