There is likely to be a delay in the take-off of Vistara, the full service domestic airline being jointly promoted by Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. Tata Sons holds a 51 per cent stake in the airline with Singapore Airlines holding the rest.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation told newspersons that the airline, which is to take delivery of its first Airbus A-320 aircraft soon, will have to do route proving flights before they are cleared to operate normal scheduled commercial flights.

"The aircraft will be sent to Singapore for being painted in the airline colours, apart from doing a few route proving flights to the satisfaction of the Indian aviation regulator. All this takes time. We estimate that it will at least another 2-3 months before the airline takes to the skies,” the official who declined to be identified said.

It was mentioned at a press conference here in August that the joint venture expects to start operations from October. It still awaits the air operator permit from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

"Vistara is working very closely with the regulators to ensure all requisite requirements and processes are being complied with. As regards the market speculations, we would not like to comment on the same," says a Vistara spokesperson.

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