Vistara may bring in wide-body planes if the 5/20 rule goes, says CEO

Vistara, the new full-service airline promoted by Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, may look at procuring or leasing wide-body aircraft if the Centre does away with the 5/20 rule, Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, said.
The 5/20 stipulates that an airline should have flown for five years in domestic skies and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before it can start international operations. “Hopeful” of the rule going, Phee Teik Yeoh said: “What you are seeing (the launch of the airline) is just the tip of the iceberg. We want to bring back the joy of flying.”
He was speaking at a press conference called to unveil the airline’s products and services.
The airline, which takes to the skies on January 9, with two narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft, hopes to have a fleet of five A-320s by March. Acquiring wide-body aircraft will allow Vistara to start long-haul international flights. Its current fleet of narrow-body aircraft does not have the range to fly non-stop to Europe, the US, or Australia. While a narrow body aircraft can fly non-stop for up to five-and-half hours, a wide-body aircraft can fly for 14-15 hours. These long-range aircraft will have 200-500 seats, while the narrow body planes will have under 200 seats.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/vistara-may-bring-in-widebody-planes-if-the-520-rule-goes-says-ceo/article6716665.ece?ref=relatedNews

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