Page 75 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

INTERVIEW VISTARA

packages in order to provide a wholesome, and also recorded either zero or the lowest of these issues and is a right step in the right
hassle-free holiday experience to leisure cancellation rate in the industry. This would direction. We’re hopeful that some of these
travellers. Our service to Port Blair offers not have been possible without the support issues will be addressed soon, as India gears
a daily flight from Delhi and Kolkata, with of a robust hub. up to surpass Japan to become the world’s
arrival and departure timings that allow third largest domestic aviation market.
for convenient connections to ferry and Let me ask you about the challenges that
catamaran services between Port Blair and you are facing? How are you grappling with the
Havelock Island. That is the kind of focus A major challenge plaguing the growth of the competition? What market share are you
we lay on leisure travellers as well. Our Indian aviation sector is the lack of better targeting by the end of 2017?
customers constantly demand us to fly to infrastructure. India’s existing aviation Vistara carries the lineage of Tata Sons
other destinations as well, and our plans infrastructure is soon reaching a saturation Ltd and Singapore Airlines Ltd, the two
are very well aligned with the feedback. point. We would like to see a growth in global conglomerates respected for highest
Having said that, certain challenges such airport capacity and deployment of new standards of service excellence and customer
as shortage of slots at several busy Indian technologies for better handling of more centricity. We introduced many industry-
airports restrict our ability to expand the flights/increasing number of flights. We also firsts in our product and service offerings
way we would like to. need to identify and address other choke which include being the first Indian carrier
points, such as parking bays and check- to pioneer a new class of travel - Premium
Would you go for wide-body planes for in counters. The airport infrastructure in Economy – in the skies, offering a lot of
international operations? India needs a long-term vision, backed by privileges and greater comfort for a lot less (in
Our international operation plans are being adequate central assistance which will fasten terms of price). The introduction of Premium
developed in full swing, and we’re fine tuning its development. Moreover, the shortage of Economy in itself brought another set of
it at the moment. We will have a more slots at several Indian airports and hoarding unique features, including priority check-in
substantial update to share with you as and them by some airlines to prevent new or boarding and deplaning, which was earlier
when the plans are finalized. airlines to grow is another big challenge. An a privilege only reserved for those flying
equitable distribution of slots amongst all Business Class. Our signature lounge at Delhi’s
You have chosen Delhi Airport as your hub airlines based on genuine demand in order to T3 airport is another industry-first, being the
for domestic and international operations. provide all players a level playing field would only exclusive airline lounge located near the
Are you satisfied with it in terms of be for the greater good of the industry. boarding gates. We have a slew of ancillary
supporting your network ambitions? Furthermore, the cost of doing business products and services such as e-coupons,
Vistara decided to make its hub at Delhi’s in India has also continued to rise. Jet fuel upgrade vouchers, lounge passes that truly
IGI Airport from where both incoming prices and airport charges have recently empower our customers. Club Vistara, the
and outgoing passengers get access to increased, while state taxes on ATF have also fastest rewarding frequent flyer program in
our robust domestic network. It suits our not been reduced in several states. Having India, which is also the least restrictive of all, is
domestic as well as international operation said that, we are glad that the government another one-of-its-kind offering. Additionally,
needs. The Delhi airport is also one of the has taken note of these significant challenges our in-flight experience offers the broadest
busiest in India as well as in Asia. and introducing measures to harness the seat pitch in the domestic market. We have
Vistara has topped OTP in the industry growth potential of the sector. The National served more than 3.5 million happy customers
for the maximum number of months in 2016 Civil Aviation Policy has acknowledged some in a short span of 24 months, most of who love
our in-flight meal service that many say is
extraordinary in the Indian skies.
With so many unique customer value
propositions, and as the list continues to
grow, it is evident that we’re approaching the
market very differently. It may be right to say
that we’re not chasing the competition, but
creating a unique space for ourselves. Our
unflinching commitment to the sector and
air travellers is clearly based on a long-term
vision. As a new entrant in the aviation sector,
we believe in challenging the status-quo
in the market to disrupt and bring the ‘new
feeling of flying’ to our customers, which
would eventually help us get where we want
to reach (in terms of gaining market share).
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