For 12 street children Vistara’s inaugural flight from Delhi to Mumbai was a tad more special than the rest of the passengers on board the Airbus A-320 aircraft.
Adopted by the Salaam Balak Trust, they were among the 148 passengers on the flight that took off from Delhi at 12.52 pm and reached Mumbai about an hour and fifty minutes later.
The winds helped Vistara’s first flight reach Mumbai before time, but issues on the runway meant that the aircraft touched down late.
The inaugural flight had on board, among others, Prasad Menon, Chairman, Vistara, and NS Rao, Chairman, GMR Group.
Earlier, they were joined by Ajay Mehra, Senior Airbus official, at Delhi airport, where a ceremonial lamp was lit just before the check-in process.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma cut the ribbon at the gate before the passengers boarded the aircraft.
Sharma joked that in India there were hardly any divorces after couples married (hinting at the tie-up between Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons) to which Goh Choon Phong, the CEO of SIA, immediately quipped that “this marriage will not break.”
Speaking to newspersons before take-off, Menon said, “Being full service does not mean you are lavish, you are over the top. It means serving different customers’ needs differently.”
On Vistara’s low-key start, Menon said, “We must do it right instead of making a big splash and getting into disappointments.”
Vistara is the first domestic airline to offer premium economy on domestic flights.
It offers 36 inches of leg room space in premium economy compared with 42 inches in business class.
Passengers who opted for non-vegetarian food on the inaugural flight were served quiche and prawns with leek, and mini Frey Swiss chocolates.
At the Delhi airport, the area right behind Gate 1 was done up in Vistara’s aubergine and gold colours.
Those checking-in for the first flight were greeted with Cadbury chocolates and addressed by name.
Mother Dairy’s Shahi Meva Malai Ice-cream was also offered.
As the aircraft began taxiing for take-off from Delhi, there was loud clapping on board.
As soon as the captain announced that the aircraft had started its descent into Mumbai, Prasad Menon and Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara, walked out of the business class cabin and inquired of passengers if they had enjoyed the flight.
To help remember their first Vistara flight experience, all the 148 passengers on board were given personalised certificates.