When Vistara, the full-service joint venture between the Tatas and Singapore Airlines, takes off on its maiden flight on Friday, it will be the culmination of the two partners’ turbulent history of trying to fly in India for 20 years.
For the Tata brand name, it will be re-association with a full-service airline six decades after Tata Airlines was nationalised in 1953.
The relationship between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines was struck by chance.
In the early 1990s, P V Naras-imha Rao, then prime minister of India, met his Singaporean counterpart, Goh Chok Tong, and the idea that Singapore Airlines explore setting up a joint venture airline in India was floated.
It suited both countries -- India had embarked on a ‘Look East’ policy and Singapore was scouting for investment opportunities.
Tata-SIA's 2-decade wait at departure lounge ends today - Rediff.com Business
For the Tata brand name, it will be re-association with a full-service airline six decades after Tata Airlines was nationalised in 1953.
The relationship between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines was struck by chance.
In the early 1990s, P V Naras-imha Rao, then prime minister of India, met his Singaporean counterpart, Goh Chok Tong, and the idea that Singapore Airlines explore setting up a joint venture airline in India was floated.
It suited both countries -- India had embarked on a ‘Look East’ policy and Singapore was scouting for investment opportunities.
Tata-SIA's 2-decade wait at departure lounge ends today - Rediff.com Business