INDIA’S full-service carrier Vistara is considering renting long-haul aircraft to make up for delays in the delivery of Boeing planes, according to a media report.
It has placed orders for four Boeing 787s to expand its international operations, but the deliveries are delayed due to quality control concerns.
The airline, which began its operations in 2015, is reportedly holding negotiations with lessors as the travel industry is recovering from the prolonged pandemic shock.
Aircraft are available for lease, but Vistara is yet to make up its mind, the company’s chief executive Vinod Kannan told Reuters.
The company, co-owned by India’s Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has a fleet of 50 aircraft and plans to have 20 more by the end of next year, but the soaring fuel prices have cast uncertainties on the aviation sector.
International flights account for 25 per cent of Vistara’s operations, connecting India with major European destinations like London and Paris.
Kannan said the airline intends to operate flights to the US, South Korea and Japan.
"A lot of the long haul depends on aircraft availability. This is the time to capitalise, especially with India opening up international travel," he said.
As fuel prices surged, he previously said financial viability was an important factor in deciding on international operations.
"Fuel burn in longer flights when the fuel price is high is something that we have to account for, which may not have been as high before”, he had said last month.
Site Navigation
Search
Latest Stories
Start your day right!
Get latest updates and insights delivered to your inbox.
Related News
More For You
Analysis by Material Focus estimates that 8.2 million vapes are discarded or littered each week in the UK—equivalent to 13 every second. (Representational image: iStock)
iStock
Shops told to clear single-use vapes before ban starts on June 1
Apr 01, 2025
SHOPS across the UK have until 1 June 2025 to sell off remaining stocks of single-use vapes before a nationwide ban comes into force.
The legislation, confirmed last year, follows a government consultation that showed strong support for restricting their sale and supply.
Businesses will not be allowed to sell single-use vapes after the deadline and must ensure they are disposed of safely.
Analysis by Material Focus estimates that 8.2 million vapes are discarded or littered each week in the UK—equivalent to 13 every second.
Recycling these products is challenging, as they must be taken apart by hand and can pose fire risks to recycling facilities.
The government has warned that businesses failing to comply with the ban could face penalties, including a £200 fine for a first offence, with further violations leading to unlimited fines or prosecution.
The ban is part of broader efforts to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy.
The government has also announced new measures to tackle waste incineration and invest £15 million in redistributing surplus food from farms.
Keep ReadingShow less
Most Popular
Trump promises TikTok deal before April 5 to prevent ban
Apr 01, 2025
As the clock ticks towards the April 5 deadline, the future of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain, with President Donald Trump promising that a deal to resolve the app's ongoing issues will be struck before the deadline. The central issue at hand is whether TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, will be forced to divest the popular social media platform or face a ban in the U.S.
In a statement made aboard Air Force One late on Sunday, Trump confirmed that there was "tremendous interest" from potential buyers looking to acquire TikTok. He expressed his desire for the platform to "remain alive" and emphasized that multiple buyers were keen on striking a deal, suggesting that a solution would be reached before the deadline.
The April 5 deadline was established following the passing of the 2024 "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," which granted ByteDance until January 19, 2025, to sell TikTok or risk a complete ban in the U.S. Lawmakers have pushed for a non-Chinese buyer of TikTok over concerns regarding national security, fearing that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government—a claim that ByteDance has consistently denied.
Private equity firm Blackstone shows interest
Among the potential buyers, private equity firm Blackstone is reportedly considering a stake in TikTok. Blackstone could join a group of non-Chinese shareholders already seen as frontrunners in the bid to acquire the platform. This potential deal has raised eyebrows, as Blackstone’s involvement could significantly alter the app’s ownership structure.
TikTok, however, has not yet responded to requests for comment from USA TODAY regarding the developments. Nonetheless, the extended deadline has certainly created a sense of urgency to finalise a sale or face a complete ban.
Why is TikTok facing a ban again?
This is not the first time that TikTok has been under scrutiny in the United States. In late January, the app was temporarily made inaccessible for just over 12 hours, following the enactment of federal legislation which effectively banned the app. This came after President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act into law in 2024, which provided ByteDance a deadline to divest the app.
The Act sparked fears among some U.S. political officials, who have long expressed concerns that TikTok's connection to ByteDance could present a national security threat. The central issue revolves around whether TikTok shares sensitive U.S. user data with the Chinese government. While these concerns have been raised for some time, ByteDance has repeatedly denied any such claims. Still, these suspicions have continued to cast a shadow over the platform's future in the U.S.
As the deadline approached, U.S. internet hosting services blocked TikTok, and app stores removed the app for download. Despite this, a promise was made by Trump, who had previously supported a potential ban, to restore TikTok's access, warning that companies could face steep penalties for blocking the app. Internet service providers and app stores were cautioned that failing to comply could lead to fines of $5,000 per user who accesses or downloads TikTok.
Can Trump extend the deadline again?
While the deadline for TikTok to be sold is fast approaching, there is still a possibility that President Trump could extend it again. Under the terms of the federal legislation that put the ban in place, the president has the power to implement a 90-day extension. However, in January, Trump opted not to take this route and instead signed an executive order to delay the ban by 75 days.
Trump now has the option to issue another executive order if he wishes to delay the sale of TikTok beyond April 5. This would give potential buyers more time to negotiate a deal and may prevent the platform from facing a permanent ban in the U.S.
Senators urge Trump to work with Congress
In the midst of the negotiations, three Democratic senators, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, and Cory Booker of New Jersey, have called on President Trump to work with Congress to find a resolution for the TikTok issue. In a letter to Trump, the senators warned that if the president continued to extend the deadline via executive orders, it would put companies such as Oracle, Apple, and Google at risk of "ruinous legal liability."
The senators have urged Trump to push Republican senators to approve the "Extend the TikTok Deadline Act," a bill that was introduced in January and, if passed, would extend the divestment deadline to October 16, 2025. This bill aims to provide more time for an agreement to be reached without causing further disruption for the companies involved.
Who’s interested in purchasing TikTok?
With the looming deadline, several high-profile individuals and groups have expressed interest in purchasing TikTok to avoid its potential ban. Trump has publicly stated that his administration is working with "four different groups" interested in acquiring the app, but he has not revealed the identities of these groups. However, some bidders have been more transparent about their interest:
Project Liberty – Led by former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, Project Liberty has submitted a bid to ByteDance. This group is backed by notable figures such as "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O’Leary and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
MrBeast (James Donaldson) – A consortium of investors, including internet superstar MrBeast (James Donaldson), has also shown interest in purchasing the app. This group is led by Employer.com founder and CEO Jesse Tinsley.
Perplexity AI – A U.S.-based search engine company, Perplexity AI, proposed a merger with TikTok rather than a direct sale. If the merger proceeds, it would create a new entity combining Perplexity AI with TikTok.
Bobby Kotick, Doug McMillon, Microsoft, and Rumble – Other names that have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok include Bobby Kotick, former CEO of video game company Activision; Doug McMillon, Walmart CEO; Microsoft (which previously attempted to acquire TikTok in 2020); and Rumble, a conservative video streaming platform.
With so much at stake, the pressure is on for a deal to be finalised. Whether TikTok will be sold to one of these interested parties or face a ban will likely be determined in the coming days. As the April 5 deadline looms large, both political and corporate leaders will continue to negotiate, hoping to avoid a dramatic outcome for the app and its millions of U.S. users.
Keep ReadingShow less
During his 15-year tenure, Marchant expanded Primark’s store network to more than 450 locations across 17 countries in Europe and the United States. (Photo: Reuters)
Primark chief Paul Marchant steps down after misconduct probe
Mar 31, 2025
PAUL MARCHANT, the head of fashion retailer Primark, has resigned with immediate effect after admitting to an "error of judgment" in his behaviour towards a woman in a social setting.
Associated British Foods (AB Foods), Primark's parent company, announced his resignation on Monday.
The company said Marchant had acknowledged that his actions did not meet the expected standards. AB Foods CEO George Weston said he was "immensely disappointed."
During his 15-year tenure, Marchant expanded Primark’s store network to more than 450 locations across 17 countries in Europe and the United States.
He also increased operating profit from about 250 million pounds to over a billion pounds.
Primark, which has a strong presence on British high streets, contributes nearly half of AB Foods' overall profit. The company also operates in the grocery, sugar, agriculture, and ingredients sectors.
AB Foods' shares were down 4 per cent on Monday morning.
"I am immensely disappointed. At ABF, we believe that high standards of integrity are essential," Weston said. "Acting responsibly is the only way to build and manage a business over the long term. Colleagues and others must be treated with respect and dignity. Our culture has to be, and is, bigger than any one individual."
AB Foods stated that Marchant's resignation followed an investigation led by external lawyers into an allegation made against him.
The company said he cooperated with the investigation, acknowledged his mistake, and accepted that his actions fell short of company standards.
Marchant apologised to the individual involved, the company’s board, and his colleagues at Primark and AB Foods. The company said it would continue to support the individual who raised the concern.
Eoin Tonge, AB Foods' finance director, will serve as interim CEO of Primark, working alongside the senior management team and Primark’s Strategic Advisory Board.
Joana Edwards, AB Foods' financial controller, will take over as interim finance director.
Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said Marchant’s departure was "very disappointing" for Primark and AB Foods, where he had overseen significant growth.
Analysts at Barclays noted that leading Primark was one of the most prominent roles in UK retail and would likely attract strong interest from potential candidates.
"But we don't think Primark are in a rush to fill the void until they find the right person to take charge," they said.
AB Foods, which lowered its annual sales forecast for Primark in January, is set to release its first-half results on April 29.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Keep ReadingShow less
Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?
Mar 31, 2025
JAGUAR’S ambition to seduce younger, richer drivers was on full display in Paris with a presentation of its newest prototype, the Type 00, which promises all-electric luxury... at a steep price.
The low-slung, muscular-looking concept car presented to European reporters last Friday (21) prefigures a production model expected mid-2026 at a base cost of €150,000 (£123,472.8).
That’s double what the current line-up of Jags cost, positioning it more in Porsche territory.
But the prestigious British brand – owned since 2008 by Indian automobile giant Tata Motors – has embarked on a campaign to remake itself as a ride for a far younger clientele than the one traditionally associated with it. Especially as the market goes increasingly electric.
Late last year, the company raised eyebrows by releasing unveiling a new logo with curved lettering, and an ad featuring a colourful, multicultural cast of models – but no cars.
The Type 00 prototype is equally as colourful: the electric blue version shown off looked like it had come from the set of a Tron movie.
Jaguar said the philosophy behind its newest offering is “exuberant modernism”. Managing director, Rawdon Glover, on hand to sit behind the prototype's wheel, called it “a very clear manifestation of all of the future Jaguars that will come”. The target market, Glover said, was “maybe between 35 and 50” and with “definitely an interest in design and interest in technology”.
Jaguar has an uphill challenge, however.
According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Jaguar in January this year represented only around 1.2 per cent of the European market for all cars sold.
The company sold 78,000 vehicles in Europe between April 2023 and end of March 2024, according to its 2024 annual report.
In the growing electric-car segment, vehicles from Tesla, Volvo, Volkswagen dominate, and many European buyers are balking at higher price tags as economic uncertainty looms.
But Jaguar hopes the Type 00 tech will prove attractive, with a promised range of 700 km (430 miles) between charges, and models offering up to 1,000 horsepower. The manufacturer, however, did not give details about the heavy batteries the cars would be fitted with.
Other luxury car-makers are slowing their transition towards all-electric vehicles, given the muted response from their customers.
Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati and other brands have put off their plans, and Jaguar’s stablemate Range Rover has delayed production of its electric SUV.
Keep ReadingShow less
Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)
Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion
Mar 31, 2025
KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."
Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.
"They discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal, agreeing that these will continue at pace this week," a statement from Downing Street said.
"They agreed to stay in touch in the coming days."
Trump has suggested the possibility of a "great" trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce.
Unlike the European Union, Britain has not responded with retaliatory measures against tariffs already imposed on its steel industry.
The previous Conservative government did not secure a deal, but Starmer, who visited Washington in late February, expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.
The UK is aiming to finalise a trade deal ahead of Trump's planned "Liberation Day" on 2 April, when he is expected to announce a series of tariffs affecting different trading partners.
No agreement has been reached yet.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
Load More
© Copyright 2025 Garavi Gujarat Publications Ltd & Asian Media Group USA Inc