DHAKA: The Tata-Singapore Airlines alliance on Monday unveiled the brand name for its venture in India.

The new airline has been christened ‘Vistara’.

‘Vistara is inspired by Vistaar, a Sanskrit word that defines the world of limitless expanse,’ the company tweeted, reports NDTV.

‘Vistara’ is likely to start operations from October this year subject to approvals from the aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

‘It’s a momentous day in the history of Indian aviation. Vistara will redefine the way people travel in India’ Prasad Menon, Chairman, TATA Singapore Airlines Ltd said.

The joint venture is 49 percent-owned by Singapore Airlines and 51 percent held by Tata Group. It plans to operate 87 flights a week during its first year of operation and nearly double that number during its second year.

‘We are in the last lap of the process of securing the Air Operator Permit (AOP of flying licence). There are a series of approvals which we have to get to the satisfaction of DGCA,’ said Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara.

‘Vistara’ initially plans to operate domestic flights, but will eventually expand to international full-service flights.

BDST: 8025 HRS, AUG 11, 2014