His start-up may still be in the red, but a Singapore Airlines (SIA) veteran is transforming the face of Indian aviation - doing things never tried before in India and lobbying for a rule change that could transform the market.
Since taking the helm at Vistara, which started flying 14 months ago, chief executive Yeoh Phee Teik and his team have scored several firsts in Indian domestic travel.
The airline - 49 per cent owned by SIA and the rest by Indian conglomerate Tata - is the first to offer a premium economy product, mobile boarding passes and separate check-in and boarding rows for different classes.
Vistara is also doing an in-flight Wi-Fi trial.
"These are simple things, common at many other airports and airlines, that make a big difference to travellers," he said.
Mr Yeoh, 48, was speaking to The Straits Times at his office in Gurgaon, south of New Delhi, where he sits among his staff in an open space for ease of interaction and communication.
Meals are another key differentiator on Vistara flights. Along with the idli (a rice cake) and thosai (a light crepe) - traditional food items served on most domestic flights - passengers also dig into chicken pies and mushroom risotto.
But the biggest challenge for Mr Yeoh, who has been with SIA for 25 years and was tasked to run the Indian start-up, is to convince the Indian government to throw out a regressive rule.
It is one that prevents Vistara and other Indian start-up carriers from expanding overseas.
26/03/16 Karamjit Kaur/Straits Times
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Since taking the helm at Vistara, which started flying 14 months ago, chief executive Yeoh Phee Teik and his team have scored several firsts in Indian domestic travel.
The airline - 49 per cent owned by SIA and the rest by Indian conglomerate Tata - is the first to offer a premium economy product, mobile boarding passes and separate check-in and boarding rows for different classes.
Vistara is also doing an in-flight Wi-Fi trial.
"These are simple things, common at many other airports and airlines, that make a big difference to travellers," he said.
Mr Yeoh, 48, was speaking to The Straits Times at his office in Gurgaon, south of New Delhi, where he sits among his staff in an open space for ease of interaction and communication.
Meals are another key differentiator on Vistara flights. Along with the idli (a rice cake) and thosai (a light crepe) - traditional food items served on most domestic flights - passengers also dig into chicken pies and mushroom risotto.
But the biggest challenge for Mr Yeoh, who has been with SIA for 25 years and was tasked to run the Indian start-up, is to convince the Indian government to throw out a regressive rule.
It is one that prevents Vistara and other Indian start-up carriers from expanding overseas.
26/03/16 Karamjit Kaur/Straits Times
