Vistara enters into codeshare agreement with SIA Group

Full-service airline Vistara on Tuesday entered into a codeshare agreement with Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its regional subsidiary SilkAir.

A codeshare agreement allows two airlines to sell seats on each others' flights in order to provide passengers with a wider choice of destinations.

Vistara is a New Delhi-based joint venture between Tata Sons and SIA.

According to the airline, four new destinations will be added to the SIA Group's India network, namely Bhubaneswar, Goa, Guwahati and Port Blair. SIA Group airlines currently serve 15 destinations in India from Singapore.

The codeshare agreement is Vistara's first with another airline group, as well as SIA's and SilkAir's first with an India-based domestic carrier.

Under the agreement, SIA will add its 'SQ' designator code to Vistara-operated flights beyond Mumbai and New Delhi to 10 destinations within India.

Further, SilkAir will add its 'MI' designator code to Vistara-operated flights beyond Bengaluru and Kolkata to six destinations within India.

Besides, the new agreement allows members of SIA's and Vistara's frequent flyer programmes -- KrisFlyer and Club Vistara -- to avail additional benefits as a result of the codeshare partnership.

"As we continuously work towards eventually becoming a globally renowned airline, codeshare partnerships will play a very important role in helping us get closer to realizing that aspiration," said Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara.

"Customers booked on any of the classes on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will find an equally world-class experience when they travel within India, given Vistara's service and operational excellence."

--IANS

rv/dg