Vistara is reportedly in talks with Boeing to change its upcoming 787s to include a resting place for crew. The area will allow for more long-distance routes with room for a backup staff and it will expand the 787-9 range. Let’s learn more about where Vistara can fly with a resting place for crew.
Longer flights
According to Mint, Vistara is currently working with Boeing to add possible rest stops for crew to some of the four 787-9s left for delivery. This will allow the Dreamliner to fly to its maximum range and include routes to the US (East and West Coast), Canada, Australia and many more.
Vistara plans to complete its 787 order by the end of the year, which means it will be able to fly the longer flight route fairly soon. Data from Planespotters.net shows that three 787-9s have been produced (VT-TSH, -TSN, and one unregistered) and will be delivered in the coming months.
Using the 787-9 on ultra-long-haul routes is certainly not a new idea. From Qantas’ Perth to London routes and American’s upcoming flight from Bangalore to Seattle, the 787 could easily be one of the longest flights in the world. On all these flights, a resting place is needed for the crew members and cabin crew who will take over halfway.
Where is Vistara going?
While Vistara can fly anywhere from Auckland to Chicago, there are some unique destinations that will make it possible. The first is direct flights to the US, which will be a possibility with a rest staff. Routes such as Delhi / Mumbai to New York or San Francisco are all popular with passengers and are seeing increasing connectivity.
Vistara is also not yet going to expand its long-distance footprint outside Frankfurt and London due to restrictions. This means that flights to Australia can also be on the map, especially if there is only one direct option available (Air India). However, border closures mean that routes to East Asia (Japan, China, etc.) and Australasia will be the last to reopen.
The airline has alluded to direct US flights in the past, but has never made a firm connection with the route. Given the current situation, it is unlikely that new ultra-long-haul flights will be added any time soon.
Deliveries on course
Although the pandemic has an impact on Vistara’s operations, the carrier remains committed to its 787 delivery schedule. All six Dreamliner’s will join the fleet by the end of 2021, the airline confirmed to Simple Flying last year. Once this order is completed, the airline will have the flexibility to add more flights and possibly even exercise its options for more 787s.
Keep an eye on Vistara’s upcoming 787-9 installments for now. If the crew is added, you may see many more unique long-distance routes in the future.
What do you think of Vistara’s plans to complement a crew resting place? Will the airline find success on long-haul routes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!