Vistara, the premium full-service airline born from a joint venture between Tata Sons (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%), launched its first flight on January 9, 2015. Former Vistara CEO Leslie Thng (full name: Leslie Thng Kan Chung) led the airline from October 2017 to December 2021, succeeding founding CEO Phee Teik Yeoh. A career Singapore Airlines executive, Thng steered Vistara through a transformative growth phase, expanding the carrier from a domestic-only operator to an international airline flying to destinations across Asia and Europe. Under his leadership, Vistara introduced widebody Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and grew its fleet to over 50 aircraft, establishing the brand as India’s highest-rated full-service carrier.

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Vistara Competitors

Vistara operated in India’s fiercely competitive aviation market. Before its merger with Air India, Vistara’s key competitors included:

• IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation) – India’s largest airline with ~65% domestic market share
• Air India (Tata Group) – India’s national flag carrier; ultimately merged with Vistara
• SpiceJet – Indian low-cost carrier
• Go First (formerly GoAir) – Indian low-cost airline (suspended operations in 2023)
• Akasa Air – Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed newer entrant in Indian aviation
• AirAsia India – Joint venture carrier (merged into Air India Express in 2024)
• Singapore Airlines – Vistara’s parent airline and full-service competitor on international routes

Leslie Thng – Quick Facts

Leslie Thng Net Worth 2026 – Vistara CEO Salary

As of 2026, Leslie Thng’s net worth is estimated at approximately $3–5 million USD. This estimate is based on his two-decade-plus career as a senior executive within the Singapore Airlines Group, including roles as CEO of SilkAir, CEO of Vistara, and his current position as CEO of Scoot and Executive Vice President at SIA. Vistara was a privately held joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, so executive compensation was not publicly disclosed.

Estimated Compensation Breakdown

Vistara Net Worth – Was Vistara Profitable?

Vistara reported its first-ever quarterly profit in Q3 FY2023 (October–December 2022), after eight years of operations. However, on a full-year basis, the airline continued to report net losses. For FY2023, Vistara’s revenue doubled to approximately INR 11,780 crore (~$1.4 billion), though the airline posted a net loss of INR 1,393 crore (~$167 million). Before the merger, Vistara held approximately 10% of India’s domestic aviation market.

Vistara Financial Summary (Final Years)

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Vistara CEO Email Address | Leslie Thng Contact

Leslie Thng’s email address at Vistara was [email protected]. Since Vistara ceased operations on November 12, 2024, this email address is no longer active. Thng can now be reached through Singapore Airlines Group / Scoot channels. Below are the known contact details:

Career & Education – Company, University, & College

Leslie Thng’s career spans over 25 years in the aviation industry, spent almost entirely within the Singapore Airlines Group. He joined SIA in 1999 as a Cadet Administrative Officer and rose through the ranks, holding senior positions across sales, marketing, network planning, and airline management before leading two separate airlines as CEO.

Leslie Thng Career Timeline

Leslie Thng began his aviation career at Singapore Airlines in 1999. Over six years at the head office, he worked in loyalty marketing, network revenue management, and network planning. He then took on a series of overseas postings as Regional Marketing Manager for North Asia, followed by roles managing operations in Northern China, Italy, and Germany.

In August 2012, Thng was appointed Chief Executive of SilkAir, SIA’s regional wing, where he oversaw route expansion and fleet modernization until 2016. He then moved to Scoot (Budget Aviation Holdings) as Chief Commercial Officer, gaining deep experience in the low-cost carrier segment.

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In October 2017, Thng was seconded to Vistara as CEO, tasked with taking the airline beyond domestic operations. During his four-year tenure, he launched Vistara’s international services, introduced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner widebody aircraft, and expanded the route network. He was promoted to Senior Vice President grade at SIA in October 2018 while continuing as Vistara CEO.

After returning to SIA headquarters in January 2022 as SVP Sales & Marketing, Thng was appointed CEO of Scoot in June 2022, replacing Campbell Wilson (who left to become CEO of Air India). Under Thng, Scoot has exceeded pre-pandemic capacity levels and won multiple industry awards, including Skytrax’s World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline (2023). In July 2024, he was promoted to Executive Vice President at Singapore Airlines Group while continuing as Scoot CEO.

Education

Leslie Thng Wiki – Age, Family, & More

Leslie Thng Kan Chung is a Singaporean national, approximately 51–52 years old as of 2026. He keeps his personal and family life private, and details about his spouse and children are not publicly available. Thng is known for his disciplined and punctual leadership style — a trait that translated directly into Vistara’s on-time performance, which regularly ranked among the best of India’s full-service carriers during his tenure.

Notable Achievements & Recognitions

• Vistara International Expansion – Launched Vistara’s first international flights in 2019, expanding to destinations including Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, and London
• Fleet Modernization – Introduced Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner widebody aircraft to the Vistara fleet
• Skytrax Awards – Under his leadership, Vistara won “Best Airline in India and South Asia” at the Skytrax World Airline Awards
• Scoot Turnaround – Led Scoot to exceed pre-pandemic capacity, traffic, and load factors by 2024
• ATW Value Airline of the Year – Scoot won the Air Transport World 2024 Value Airline of the Year award under Thng’s leadership
• SIA EVP Promotion – Promoted to Executive Vice President at Singapore Airlines Group in July 2024

Thng has been recognized for his ability to manage airline operations across different market segments — from regional (SilkAir) to full-service (Vistara) to low-cost long-haul (Scoot) — a rare breadth of experience in the airline industry.

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About Vistara (Tata SIA Airlines)

Vistara (officially Tata SIA Airlines Ltd.) was an Indian full-service airline headquartered in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It was a joint venture between Tata Sons (51%) and Singapore Airlines (49%). The airline began commercial operations on January 9, 2015 with its maiden flight from Delhi to Mumbai, and quickly established itself as India’s premier full-service domestic carrier.

Vistara operated a mixed fleet of Airbus A320neo/A321neo narrowbody and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner widebody aircraft. The airline served 42+ destinations across India, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. It was named the “Best Airline in India and South Asia” at the Skytrax World Airline Awards for multiple consecutive years.

On November 29, 2022, Tata Group and Singapore Airlines announced plans to merge Vistara with Air India. The merger was formally completed on November 12, 2024, at which point Vistara ceased operations as an independent airline. Singapore Airlines invested INR 2,058.5 crore to acquire a 25.1% stake in the merged Air India entity. Vistara’s aircraft, crew, routes, and loyalty program were absorbed into Air India.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was the CEO of Vistara?

Vistara had three CEOs during its nine-year existence: Phee Teik Yeoh (founding CEO, 2015–2017), Leslie Thng (October 2017 – December 2021), and Vinod Kannan (January 2022 – November 2024, the final CEO who oversaw the merger with Air India). All three were seconded from Singapore Airlines.

What is Leslie Thng’s net worth in 2026?

Leslie Thng’s net worth is estimated at $3–5 million USD as of 2026. This is based on his 25+ year career as a senior executive in the Singapore Airlines Group, including CEO roles at SilkAir, Vistara, and Scoot. Exact compensation figures are not publicly disclosed as Vistara was a private company.

What is the Vistara CEO’s email address?

Leslie Thng’s email at Vistara was [email protected]. However, Vistara ceased operations on November 12, 2024 and this email is no longer active. Thng currently serves as CEO of Scoot (Singapore Airlines) and can be reached through SIA Group channels.

What happened to Vistara airline?

Vistara merged with Air India on November 12, 2024 and ceased to exist as an independent airline. The merger was part of the Tata Group’s consolidation of its airline businesses. Singapore Airlines invested INR 2,058.5 crore to acquire a 25.1% stake in the merged Air India entity. All Vistara flights, crew, aircraft, and loyalty program members were absorbed into Air India.

Where is Leslie Thng now?

After leaving Vistara in December 2021, Leslie Thng returned to Singapore Airlines. Since June 2022, he has served as CEO of Scoot, SIA’s low-cost carrier subsidiary. In July 2024, he was promoted to Executive Vice President at Singapore Airlines Group while continuing as Scoot CEO.

Was Vistara a profitable airline?

Vistara reported its first quarterly profit in Q3 FY2023 (October–December 2022), after eight years of operations. However, on an annual basis, the airline continued to post net losses. In FY2023, Vistara’s revenue doubled to approximately INR 11,780 crore (~$1.4 billion), though the full-year net loss was INR 1,393 crore (~$167 million). The airline held about 10% of India’s domestic market before the merger.

Article last updated:January 2026March 2, 2026