The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has granted tentative approval to Vistara for an exemption and a foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services between the US and India under the air transport agreement between the two countries.

Earlier reports had mentioned that the airline aims to commence scheduled services between India and the US in early September 2021.

Granting permission to Vistara to begin operations between India and the US, the DOT order states, “We grant the request of TATA SIA Airlines Limited (TSAL) d/b/a Vistara to engage in

(1) Scheduled foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail from points behind India, via India and intermediate points, to a point or points in the United States and beyond

(2) Charter foreign air transportation of persons, property and mail between any point or points in India and any point or points in the United States, and between any point or points in the United States and any point or points in a third country or countries, provided that, except with respect to cargo charters, such service constitutes part of a continuous operation, with or without a change of aircraft, that includes service to India for the purpose of carrying local traffic between India and the United States

(3) Other charters as authorized by 14 CFR part 212.”

The DOT order also states, “Based on the record in this case, we found that TSAL is financially and operationally qualified to perform the services authorised. Vistara states that its ownership structure remains unchanged from its initial filing.”