Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 30: After getting all necessary approvals from the Airport Authority of India, Air Vistara completed its flight test Tuesday. The airline, a joint venture of Tata Sons Ltd and Singapore Airlines, is scheduled to start its maiden flight operations from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) Thursday.
The full-service carrier having business class and premium economy class travelling arrangement will operate two daily flights from Bhubaneswar to Delhi. It has already started installing its service stations in BPIA like check-in facility, security check-up points, luggage inspection and loading points. Vistara’s fleet includes seven Airbus A320-232 aircraft. It is also the first airline to introduce premium economy seats. Vistara, however, does not offer in-flight entertainment screens for movies, said sources. It provides on-board Wi-Fi connectivity. The menu of its vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes will keep changing every week, said sources.
“Like Vistara, so many other airlines have shown their interest in starting operation from BPIA. Fly Easy airline will conduct its flight test October 12,” said BPIA director Sharad Kumar. Vistara’s first flight is scheduled to take off from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi at 7:10 am and is expected to land in Bhubaneswar at 9:20 am. The same plane will then take off for Delhi at 10 am and is expected to reach IGIA by 12:10 pm.
The evening flight from Delhi will take off from IGIA at 4:35 pm and is expected to reach BPIA by 6:45 pm, officials said.