History of TATA group airlines.

The first TATA Airlines was started in October 15, 1932, the Postmaster of Bombay and other dignitaries assembled in the city’s Juhu area to welcome a tiny Puss Moth aircraft carrying post from Karachi. Piloted by J R D Tata, the flight had a historical significance — it was the first such mail service by an Indian company.

J R D TATA In his book ‘Beyond the Last Blue Mountain: A Life of J R D Tata’, R M Lala writes the airmail service was to originally begin from September 15 of 1932 but the launch had to be postponed as mud flats of Juhu were under water due to heavy monsoon — there was no proper runway or airport. After the second World War, J R D Tata gave a proposal to the government to start an international airline, with the government owning a 49 per cent stake, Tata’s 25 per cent and the public the rest. For domestic operations, there was Indian Airlines.

Tata Airlines became a public company in 1946 and was renamed Air India. Its first flight, a Bombay-Cairo-Geneva-London flight, used a Lockheed Constellation plane. In 1948, Air India became the first Asian airline to start a regular service between Asia and Europe. The tickets for the inaugural Bombay-London flight were priced at Rs 1,720 each.

Vistara beings with new journey is now stated by Again in Indian Aviation hope it create another milestone for Indian Airlines company.

The name is inspired by ‘vistaar’, a sanskrit word meaning “limitless expanse”.

1. Vistara is a full service airline

Like Jet Airways, Air India and now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, Vistara is a full service airline. What this means is that the passengers won’t have to pay for water or food inside the aircraft like the low-cost carriers (LCCs).

2. Vistara has three-class configurations

Even as Air India did try to launch premium economy seats it did not push or market it aggressively leaving a void that Vistara aims to fill. The airline has a business, premium economy and economy class seats on its planes to cater to all segments of fliers.

3. More legroom in the economy class

Frequent fliers constantly lament about the reducing legroom in the economy class seats. Vistara looks to woo passengers with 20% more legroom in its economy class. Not only this, the seats in an Vistara aircraft reclines more than its competition.

4. Back in the airline business after 6 decades

With Vistara, Tata Sons is back in the airline business after 6 decades. Tata Airlines was renamed Air India in 1946 and was nationalised five years hence. The Tatas did try to launch another airline in the 1990s but failed. Even with Vistara, the Group encountered several issues but managed to tide over them.

5. Only third full-service domestic airline

Vistara today becomes the third full-service airline in India after Jet Airways and Air India. With the aviation sector constantly under pressure with the shutting down of Kingfisher Airlines and clouds over Spicejet’s future, everyone has their eyes on Vistara and its strategy to succeed going forward.

6. Market Competition 

Experts believe that both these airlines will be game-changers in India’s competitive aviation sector, where many players have been crippled by high cost and low fares.“Overall impact on the aviation sector will be positive. Both are strong companies with deep pockets,” said Dhiraj Mathur, executive director at Pricewaterhouse Coopers

7. Shareholding:

Tata Sons, the holding company of Tata Group, partnered with Singapore Airlines on September 19, 2013, to launch this airline with an initial investment of $100 million. Tata Sons holds 51% stake while the remainder is with Singapore Airlines

8. Ground handling agreement and Outsourcing strategy:

The airline has tied up with Air India, which will manage its ground-handling and engineering services.

9. Airbus over Boeing:

Singapore Airlines chose Airbus’s A320 for this venture. Aircraft will be leased.

10. Team lead and Direction :

Tata veteran Prasad Menon is the chairman for TATA SIA Airlines Limited. He also a Chairman for other sector in TATA group of companies

Story Reports: Business standard , DNA and Quartz