Indian airline Vistara is poised to launch international service in late 2018. While routes are not yet confirmed, CEO Leslie Thng has indicated that their first international flight would be to South East Asia. The airline is slated to service routes from Delhi to Bangkok, Colombo, and Male (Maldives) starting this winter. Several regional and international carriers serve travel from Delhi to Colombo and Bangkok, but there is not yet a direct route from Delhi to Male.
Vistara, which began operations in January 2015, has 20 Airbus A320 planes at present. The airline becomes eligible to expand overseas following the arrival of its 21st and 22nd aircraft due by September of this year. The confirmed purchase of six more Boeing aircraft with another 60 rumoured to be in negotiation, as well as the airline’s recent IATA operational safety audit and membership in the International Air Transport Association indicate an overseas launch is imminent.