France Calling: Vistara Will Launch Boeing 787 Flights To Paris

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Indian carrier Vistara is seeking to expand its long-haul network. The airline today revealed plans to add the French capital city, Paris, to its growing network. Vistara will launch the route with its limited Boeing 787 fleet due to the ongoing pause concerning new Dreamliner deliveries.

Vistara Boeing 787
Vistara’s Boeing 787s will soon fly to Paris. Photo: Getty Images

While Vistara only has two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, the airline is keen to use them. The global health crisis had depressed the need to seek long-haul flights, but as it subsides, people are eager to travel, and airlines want to carry them. Vistara is now hoping to turn two 787 routes into three.

Bonjour Vistara

Vistara’s latest Boeing 787 route is due to be launched on November 7th. From this date, the Indian carrier will begin flying between Delhi and Paris twice a week. Flights will depart from Delhi and Paris twice a week to the following schedule,

  • UK 21 – Delhi (DEL) 13:45 – Paris (CDG) 18:40 – Nine hours and 25 minutes
  • UK 22 – Paris (CDG) 21:45 – Delhi (DEL) 10:30+1 – Eight hours and 15 minutes

Interestingly, the inaugural flight won’t follow the schedule. It will leave Paris on the Monday. This is likely to do with crew rest, as there won’t be a crew in the city on a layover ahead of the first flight, which may carry another crew to wait for the second flight.

Vistara, Boeing 787, Paris
The Paris route will operate alongside flights to London and Frankfurt. Photo: Cirium

The flights will be offered with three cabin classes. Economy class tickets will cost ₹40,499 ($548,84) from India and €560 ($657.59) from Paris for an all-inclusive round trip. Premium economy will set passengers back ₹71,999 ($975.73) and €880 ($1,033.35) respectively. Finally, business class will be priced at ₹135,999 ($1,843.05) and €2,020 ($2,372.01).

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Commenting, Leslie Thng, Vistara’s outgoing CEO, said,

“We are very pleased to commence flights to Paris, a step that reflects our commitment to growing our global network. These flights give us the opportunity to further build our presence in Europe and to present India’s finest fullservice carrier to the world.”

Vistara’s Boeing 787 fleet

Vistara has placed orders for six Boeing 787 aircraft but currently only has two -9s. The first was delivered to the airline in February 2020, with the second following in August of that year. Unfortunately, the Indian carrier has been unable to take delivery of any more aircraft since.
Dreamliner deliveries have been largely on hold for almost a year. A few aircraft were delivered earlier this year,

  • March – Two aircraft
  • April – Nine aircraft
  • May – Two aircraft
  • June – One aircraft
Vistara, Boeing 787, Paris
Vistara Boeing 787s are waiting to be delivered in the Mojave Desert. Photo: Vincenzo Pace – Simple Flying

Two weeks ago, Simple Flying reported that Boeing may not resume 787 deliveries until October. In the manufacturer’s Q2 results call, it revealed that it had roughly 100 787s ready to deliver, including at least one for Vistara. Fewer than half are expected to be delivered this year.

Once Vistara takes delivery of its outstanding 787’s, we can expect that the airline will add more long-haul destinations and potentially increase frequencies. The airline has previously indicated that it wishes to use the Boeing 787 for flights to the United States.

What do you make of Vistara’s Paris plans? Let us know what you think and why in the comments.



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