Dhaka : India's renowned full-service airline Vistara has increased frequencies on Dhaka-Mumbai route to seven weekly from the earlier twice weekly from June 1, 2023. With this, the airline now operates seven weekly flights from Dhaka to Delhi and Mumbai respectively. Vinon Kannan, CEO of Vistara said this while talking to The Bangladesh Monitor in an interview held at the airline's GSA in Bangladesh MAAS Travels (Rhythm Group’s) head office in the capital recently.

Vistara began its flight operations to and from Dhaka since November 2020 during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic worldwide.
Even, amid the pandemic, Vistara ensured cash flow management and continued taking deliveries of aircraft.

On the other hand, in India and the neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, the aviation market has always been quite big with plenty of potential, shared the CEO.
Therefore, even after flights were difficult to operate amid the pandemic, the airline knew that, in the long run, the decision to operate flights to and from Bangladesh would turn out to be profitable, claimed Kannan.

He also mentioned, the journey was further smoothened, thanks to the efficient cooperation from the airline's partner in Bangladesh-Rhythm Group (MAAS Travels).

Initially, the airline started operations to and from Bangladesh with twice weekly flights on Dhaka-Delhi route. However, in only two years-time, the airline expanded its operations to seven weekly flights from Dhaka to Delhi and Mumbai respectively.

Vinod Kannan

This shows the great potential of the Bangladesh aviation market and the air travel demand it boasts, said the CEO, adding, India and Bangladesh have always been traditional trade partners.

Also, over the last eight years, Vistara has built a good brand value globally. Great customer service and product as well as on-time flight operation are what Vistara brings to the table, stressed the CEO.

Coupled with the support from the customers from Bangladesh and India respectively, the airline has been able to ramp up its operations in Bangladesh rapidly, added the CEO.

Vinod Kannan shared, Vistara offers the best value for money to the passengers.

Currently, the airline is focusing solely on the Dhaka market as it has plans to further expand frequencies on the two aforementioned routes. However, soon, the airline will look at expansion to other cities of Bangladesh, expressed the CEO.

The tickets for the majority of passengers travelling currently from Bangladesh to India by Vistara are sold by the Bangladesh point of sale, meaning they are ticketed in Bangladesh, rejoiced the CEO, as it is positive for Vistara and helps to support the route.

The passenger mix on the routes of Vistara includes business, leisure and medical travellers, said the CEO, adding, there are also passengers going beyond India to onward destinations, domestic and international alike.

For instance, the airline is witnessing travellers flying to Jeddah, Dammam, and Muscat, among others, from Bangladesh, as Vistara serves 15 international points from Mumbai and welcomes most onward traffic to the Middle East from Mumbai.

On the other hand, from Delhi, the airline currently flies to London, Paris, and Frankfurt, among others, as the airline welcomes plenty of traffic from Delhi to Europe.

It may be mentioned here, Vistara is also flying from Mumbai to London from June 1, 2023. The CEO shared the development will offer more opportunities to passengers of Bangladesh to fly beyond Mumbai.