Tata SIA Airlines-operated Vistara is likely to receive a green signal from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to operate Boeing 737 aircraft in less than a week, a government official told CNBC-TV18.
"Vistara is an all Airbus fleet as of now. So certain formalities and checks were needed before we permit them to operate Boeing 737 fleet. That should happen in a week or so," the official said on condition of anonymity.
Vistara, which is a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, currently operates a fleet of 22 Airbus A320 aircraft and has recently announced plans to induct four Boeing 737-800 planes and two A320neo planes.
However, it is learnt that the carrier has applied for a total of 10 ex-Jet Airways Boeing 737 planes. "In terms of ex-Jet aircraft, Vistara has applied for 10 Boeing 737 planes and SpiceJet has applied for around 40," another official said.
The process of de-registration is taking place at breakneck speed at the DGCA, largely because the lessors are Keen not to have a repeat of Kingfisher Airlines situation.
"This time, lessors don't want a repeat of Kingfisher where aircraft were stuck at the airports because of non-payment of dues to the airport operator and ultimately, those planes were in no condition to fly at all. Lessors are quick in submitting no-objection certificates from airport operators and on that basis de-registration is being done at a high pace," the official added.
Nearly 80 percent of Jet Airways' fleet has already been de-registered by the DGCA.