The Indian AvGeek

On Episode 68 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Wilco Sweijen, Airline Partnerships Director at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, for a behind-the-curtain conversation on how AMS picks its airline partners, courts new routes, and quietly shapes the future of European long-haul aviation. ✈️ India-Amsterdam corridor: 42 flights/week & 8,48,000 pax in 2025, with 26% point-to-point passengers ✈️ IndiGo at AMS: how that conversation actually began ✈️ Slot archaeology: art of finding underutilised slots & the delicate diplomacy of "use it or lose it" conversations ✈️ "The best incentive we offer is that you actually got the slots" Wilco on why Schiphol's value proposition is fundamentally different from Gulf and Turkish hubs ✈️ KLM question: can Schiphol genuinely be neutral when its anchor carrier already flies DEL, BOM, HYD & BLR? ✈️ Why Barcelona–El Prat is Schiphol's busiest route at 95 weekly flights, & what that tells you about hub geometry ✈️ Coaching airlines: the service Schiphol provides to help carriers actually win the slots they need ✈️ Has anyone seriously pitched Chennai or Ahmedabad to Amsterdam? ✈️Wish list: why Qantas remains the one carrier Schiphol would love to land ✈️ Sustainability vs. competitiveness: Is Schiphol's green stance a gift to Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Brussels? ✈️ What happens when partnerships fail, the digital twin advantage, & a 10-year vision for what Schiphol's airline portfolio should look like The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. Vishal Mehra on X

In Episode 67 of The Indian AvGeek, we are going under the hood of one of the world’s most aggressive loyalty transformations. Our guest is Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest. India is Etihad Guest's second-largest member market globally, and it's growing faster than any other. With 13.5 million members worldwide and a program that's quietly evolving from an airline loyalty scheme into something closer to a fintech platform, the stakes have never been higher. We don't just talk about seat upgrades. We dive into the porous ecosystem strategy: Why did Etihad enable two-way transfers with Flipkart? How do you maintain a premium brand when members earn miles on Swiggy grocery deliveries? And in a world of status inflation, what does a $150,000 spend for the new Diamond Tier actually get you? In this episode:  ✈️ How Etihad Guest cracked India, and why the country could be its biggest market by the end of 2026 ✈️ The SBI Card to BOBCARD switch for the Indian credit card market ✈️ 6/members every minute in India, but does scale kill exclusivity? ✈️ Status inflation - when everyone's Elite, what does the lounge door even mean anymore? ✈️ Bilateral rights at capacity, does the loyalty program become the growth engine for Etihad in India? ✈️ In 5 years, is Etihad Guest still an airline program or a fintech platform that happens to own some airplane seats? ✈️ Building loyalty programs that appeal to Agentic AI algorithms. The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. Vishal Mehra on X

Episode 66 of The Indian AvGeek is part 2 of one of the most substantive conversations this show has ever hosted, and it goes deeper. Thomas Jaeger (Founder, ch-aviation) and Addison Schonland (Founder, AirInsight Group) are back, and this time the conversation turns to the questions that keep airline executives, analysts, and engineers up at night. We start with the engine crisis, and the numbers are stark. ch-aviation data puts the global AoG count at somewhere between 300 and 500+ aircraft grounded due to engine-related issues. GTF shop visit turnarounds have ballooned from 60 days to over 300. The question isn't whether MRO capacity is under pressure; it's whether it can realistically calibrate itself before 2027 or whether we're staring at a structural deficit that reshapes how airlines plan their fleets entirely. ✈️ Boeing vs. Airbus dilemma: For an airline needing capacity in 2028, which is the bigger gamble: Boeing’s quality recovery or Airbus’s decade-long backlog? ✈️ Air India’s complexity tax: Is the "New Air India" big enough to ignore the economic nightmare of a highly fragmented mixed fleet? ✈️ Ancillary crutch: Thomas breaks down whether the global industry would even be profitable today if core ticket prices weren't masked by convenience fees & baggage charges ✈️ Green-time bubble: Why airlines are scrambling for vintage engines just to stay in the air ✈️ Future of flight: From Boom’s "Symphony" engine to the massive infra mountain JetZero (BWB) must climb, mirroring the A380’s difficult entry, we separate the paper planes from the future of flight The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. ch-avaition on X AirInsight on X Vishal Mehra on X

Episode 65  In our landmark 65th episode, we bring together two of the world’s most formidable aviation analysts for a rare joint appearance. Thomas Jaeger (Founder & CEO, ch-aviation) and Addison Schonland (Founder & Partner, AirInsight Group) join the show to dissect the state of the industry. We dive deep into the strategic earthquake of Willie Walsh joining IndiGo: Is he there to protect the low-cost core or to build an IAG-style multi-tier empire? We explore the "Death of the Pure LCC" as IndiGo and Air India Express embrace dual cabins and widebodies, and ask the hard questions about India's growing duopoly, is a 90% market concentration a systemic risk to the national economy? From the A321XLR’s potential to bleed major hubs to the brutal market share war between Boeing’s thoroughness and Airbus’s volume, this is a great listen for the economics and mechanics of flight in 2026. This episode is part 1. Episode 66, where the conversation turns to the global fleet crisis, engine backlogs, supersonic aviation, hydrogen, and blended-wing bodies, drops in three days. The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. ch-avaition on X AirInsight on X Vishal Mehra on X

Episode 64 100 years of Lufthansa. One guest who's been there for 34 of them. In Episode 64 of The Indian AvGeek, we sit down with Felipe Bonifatti, VP Asia Pacific, Middle East & Joint Ventures East at the Lufthansa Group – the man responsible for the Group's entire passenger airline business across this part of the world, covering brands like Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Discover, and now ITA Airways. In a wide-ranging conversation, we dig into what Lufthansa's centenary means beyond the anniversary liveries and whether the "We Are The Journey" brand campaign is actually a strategic tool or just a beautiful poster. We talk about the APAC market, India's fast-heating, non-stop landscape, and whether Lufthansa's future in India is about flying point-to-point or feeding its Frankfurt and Munich hubs. We ask about ITA Airways and a big, unspoken question: could Rome become Lufthansa's southern gateway to Asia? We talk about the expanding joint venture with Singapore Airlines, metal neutrality, and whether Star Alliance is still the most important card in the group's APAC hand — or whether bilateral partnerships have quietly taken over. Felipe also gives us a candid look at the 777-9 delay, the complexity behind Allegris' five business class variants, and something you rarely hear from airline executives: the hardest truths about running a European network carrier in a world that doesn't give everyone the same rulebook. The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. Vishal Mehra on X

Episode 63 On March 10th, 2026, the Indian aviation industry was rocked by the abrupt resignation of Pieter Elbers from IndiGo. As the architect of IndiGo’s global expansion—introducing wide-bodies, business class, and a massive international footprint—his departure leaves more questions than answers. Is this a strategic pivot back to the airline’s ruthless LCC roots? Does Rahul Bhatia’s "Main Hoon Naa" sign-off signal a cultural restoration or a leadership vacuum? In this special one-off episode of The Indian AvGeek, we are joined by Kushan Mitra (Publisher, The Pioneer) and Ajay Awtaney (Founder, LiveFromALounge) to dissect the fallout. We discussed: * The surgical nature of the resignation and what it says about IndiGo's board dynamics. * Whether the A350 wide-body strategy and IndiGo Stretch are now at risk. * The significance of the “December scars” mentioned in the internal memo. * Where Pieter Elbers might land next—and if Air India is already watching. * Who might be the next top executive at 6E * What the OEMs, like Airbus must be feeling right now The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. Kushan Mitra on X Ajay Awtaney on X Vishal Mehra on X

Episode 62    This week on The Indian AvGeek, we hit a bucket-list milestone. We are joined by Scott McCartney, the legendary creator of the Wall Street Journal’s "Middle Seat" column. For 29 years, Scott was the ultimate arbiter of the passenger experience, and today, we turn the tables to ask him the hard questions. He is also the co-host of the Airlines Confidential podcast. We go behind the scenes of his most iconic stories—including the investigation that led to a CEO’s firing and the "broken windows theory" behind Southwest’s infamous coffee (and how Herb Kelleher’s love for whisky played a role). Scott opens up about his "critic vs. CEO" dynamic with Ben Baldanza, the metrics airlines' game to look good on paper, and the visceral experience of flying the Boeing 737 MAX simulator. In the second half, we dive deep into the Indian market. Scott compares the radical transformations of Air India and Southwest, talks about "airport ghost towns", and offers a provocative take on whether the A321XLR is a "loyalty trap" for passengers. This is the episode for anyone who's ever wondered what aviation looks like when someone who's seen everything finally says exactly what he thinks. The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. Scott McCartney on X Vishal on X

Episode 61  Just as the aviation industry digests the news of the Lufthansa-Air India MoU and the arrival of the Allegris cabin in New Delhi, we sit down with Kevin Markette, Head of Sales for South Asia at Lufthansa. In this deep dive, we move past the press releases to answer the questions Indian frequent flyers actually care about. From the challenge of choosing between five different business class seats to the million-dollar question: when will every Lufthansa flight from India finally have guaranteed direct aisle access? The Big MoU: How a stronger Air India changes the game for the LH Group.Hardware wars: Allegris vs. SWISS SENSES—which routes are next?The Narrow-body Long-haul: Is the Group finally softening its stance on the A321XLR?The Queen & The Giant: The future of the 747-8 and A380 in the Indian skies. Kevin walks us through why India matters, how upgauging and aircraft shortages shape strategy, and what flyers can expect from premium cabins, new routes, and alliance dynamics. We dig into Munich–Bengaluru demand, Frankfurt–Hyderabad strategy and more. The Indian AvGeek streams on all podcast apps. Vishal on X

Episode 60: What does it take to get a widebody jet from Mumbai to land in Copenhagen? It turns out it’s a mix of high-stakes matchmaking, "slot surgery", and sometimes even a twenty-year game of patience. In this landmark 60th episode, Vishal Mehra sits down with Johan Laurberg, Senior Route Development Manager at Copenhagen Airports (CPH). We go behind the scenes of one of Europe’s most fascinating "hub identity transplants" as SAS moves from Star Alliance to SkyTeam. Johan reveals the secrets of the "dual-nation gateway", explaining how CPH serves both Denmark and Southern Sweden and why that potentially makes the airport a goldmine. In this episode: The 20-year route: Two decades of conversation to launch the Ho Chi Minh City link with CPH. IndiGo’s northbound leap: How the Mumbai-CPH route overcame short lead times and visa hurdles to launch, and how did this route even happen? Legacy vs. LCA: The difference between pitching to Air India and a "hybrid" giant like IndiGo. The science of the bank: How CPH manages "slot surgery" between airlines and alliances. The next frontier: Is a direct Bengaluru-CPH flight on the horizon?  Johan also explains how CPH is reshaping its hub role after alliance shifts, the commercial logic behind IndiGo’s Mumbai service, how airports and airlines align on new routes, and what makes Copenhagen competitive versus Stockholm and Helsinki. The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps. Vishal on X

In Episode 59 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra sits down with Chris Shindle to explore the evolving world of business aviation through Boeing’s lens. From Honeywell’s forecast of 8,500 new biz jets in the next decade to India’s billionaire class weighing Gulfstreams against BBJs, this conversation dives deep into the trade-offs between speed, cabin volume, and prestige. Chris explains how a BBJ sale unfolds, current delivery timelines, and whether business jet customers get priority over airlines. We discuss India’s infrastructure expansion with Navi Mumbai and Noida International Airport, the lingering FBO bottleneck, and whether 2026 could be the year of the “Bizliner boom.” Other highlights include: * The halo effect of India’s VVIP Boeing 777-300ERs * The promise of the BBJ 777X for global conglomerates * Boeing’s BBJ Select modular interiors vs. bespoke luxury * SAF blending and future-proofing private widebodies * Unique Indian interior requests shifting from “gold & mahogany” to “Scandi-minimalist boardrooms” * The rise of fractional ownership and whether BBJ will ever embrace shared models * Boeing vs Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty: the decisive differentiator * Local presence politics: Dassault, Embraer, and Boeing’s aspirational edge The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps. Vishal on X

Episode 58:  We are kicking off 2026 with a high-altitude deep dive! In the season premiere, Vishal Mehra sits down with Mark Nasr, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer at Air Canada. Mark is the man the AvGeek community knows as the architect behind the revamped Aeroplan, but today, he’s steering the operational ship of Canada’s flag carrier. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore why India has become Air Canada’s most critical overseas market—surpassing even the UK and France in traffic volume—and the complex chess game of managing ultra-long-haul operations. Key highlights in this episode: The Transition: Moving from "selling the dream" at Aeroplan to "delivering the reality" as COO.Aeroplan’s Importance: Why loyalty programs are now profit centres shaping operational priorities.The India Powerhouse: Why Mark believes India is the most dynamic nation in the world, and how Air Canada is positioning itself, along with future expansion.The Fleet Shuffle: The truth behind the A321XLR payload performance issues on the Palma route and why the 787 swap happened.Alliance Evolution: Why the Star Alliance model needs modernization and the "intended" (or unintended) quirks of Aeroplan redemptions on Air India, partner airlines.Operational Resilience: Lessons learned from the 2025 flight attendant strike and the strategic separation of the mainline airline brand and Rouge. The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps. Vishal on X

Episode 57: The 2026 Flight Plan with Ajay Awtaney As 2025 draws to a close, the Indian skies look vastly different than it did twelve months ago. We’ve seen the "arrival" of India on the global stage at the IATA AGM in Delhi, but we’ve also grappled with the sombre reality of the AI171 tragedy and operational meltdowns at IndiGo that tested passenger loyalty to its limit. In this deep-dive season finale, Vishal sits down with LiveFromALounge’s founder and editor, Ajay Awtaney, to dissect a year of extreme highs and lows. We explore: The IndiGo Pivot: From "IndiGoStretch" to the "BluChip" loyalty program—is the LCC/hybrid giant successfully poaching corporate flyers, or just rewarding its own?The Air India Integration: Post-Vistara, has the "premium culture" survived the merger, or are passengers drifting toward foreign carriers?Infrastructure Wars: With Navi Mumbai finally open and Noida/Jewar facing more delays, what does the “dual airport" reality look like for Mumbai and Delhi NCR flyers?The 2026 Outlook: The XLR’s 8-hour marathon to Athens, Air India’s massive retrofit rollout, and the battle for the Indian credit card wallet.Loyalty wars—BluChip vs Maharaja Club, new credit card tie-ups, and Emirates eyeing India.Akasa’s quiet rise—targeting Singapore, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan while the big two are distracted. From alliances to loyalty programs, from Athens’ narrowbody long-haul to New Delhi’s triple-airport reality, Ajay and Vishal decode the future of Indian aviation in 2026. The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps. Rishad on X Vishal on X

Episode 56 Virgin Atlantic isn’t just flying to India; they are painting the skies red with a staggering 350% growth since 2019. In this episode, Vishal sits down with Shivani Singh Deo, Country Manager – India for Virgin Atlantic, to decode how the "cheeky challenger" of aviation is aggressively expanding its footprint in one of the world's largest aviation markets. Transitioning from a marketing role to leading country operations, Shivani opens up about the strategy behind Virgin’s massive capacity boost—offering one million seats annually on India routes. We deep dive into the mechanics of their four-way partnership with IndiGo, Delta, and Air France-KLM, and how this alliance is reshaping the India-UK-US corridor. We also touch on the recent joint interview of AF-KLM & Lufthansa CEOs on their growing worries about Gulf-based airlines, as well as Turkish Airlines. Key discussion points: The 350% Surge: How Virgin Atlantic achieved massive growth and the strategy behind the new Bengaluru and double-daily Mumbai services.Strategic Alliances: Analysing the impact of the IndiGo and SkyTeam partners on Virgin’s competitive edge.Fleet & Product: Why the "youngest, cleanest fleet" matters, and the split between O&D vs. connecting traffic (60:40) to the US.Business of Cargo: Discussing the untold story of a 356% increase in cargo capacity.The Sky High Club: Inside the unique, India-only rewards program for travel agents.Women in Aviation: Shivani’s advice for aspiring female leaders in a male-dominated industry. Tune in for a masterclass on balancing profitability with personality in the skies. The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 55 with Arun Kumar Singh, the CEO of Kyrgyzstan-based TezJet.  From the hyper-regulated regional skies of India’s UDAN scheme to the mountainous terrain of Central Asia, Arun’s journey is as unique as the fleet he operates. With TezJet launching its direct Bishkek-Delhi service this week, we dive deep into the operational reality of connecting India with Kyrgyzstan. But this isn't just a route launch conversation—it is a deep dive into fleet strategy, unit economics, and aviation history. In this episode, we discuss: The Return of the Mad Dog: Why TezJet operates the MD-83 (including the last one ever built!) and the Avro RJ85 in an era of A320neos and 737 MAXs.UDAN Reality Check: Having led IndiaOne Air, Arun gives a brutally honest take on why regional connectivity in India cannot survive without subsidies.Kingfisher Untold Stories: Arun shares shocking anecdotes from his time at Kingfisher Airlines, including the story of how Vijay Mallya ordered a fleet of Airbus A340s during a lunch at a London pub—a meal that cost $550 million.Old Jets, New Tech: How TezJet balances flying 28-year-old analog jets while using cutting-edge AI pricing tools like RateGain.Engine Woes: Why Arun is taking Pratt & Whitney’s recovery timeline with a "pinch of salt". Whether you are an aviation professional tracking CASK and yields or an enthusiast nostalgic for the MD-80 series, this episode is packed with unfiltered insights. Tune in now! The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps. Arun Kumar Singh - ⁠@AKS9955⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 54 What happens when a pilot, an airline operator, and a strategist decide to reimagine aviation through the lens of data? In this episode, I sit down with Courtney Miller, the mind behind Visual Approach Analytics, to explore how storytelling, visualisation, and forecasting are reshaping the way airlines make decisions. What we discussed: •  Courtney’s journey into aviation: from the cockpit to Bombardier and DHL, and eventually into analytics. •  Why he believes the industry was “oddly slow” to recognize the value of aviation analytics. •  Lessons from DHL’s cargo forecasting (yes, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day were the most stressful!) and how they differ from passenger airline planning. •  The art of turning complex aviation data into accessible intelligence. •  Fleet planning quirks: Allegiant’s unique approach, Akasa’s Boeing delivery challenges, SpiceJet’s survival instincts, and what Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo should be doing differently. •  The profitability puzzle: India’s booming demand versus chronic losses—what data signals separate hype from traction. •  Are Indian airlines over-ordering? Courtney breaks down the metrics that reveal overcapacity, underutilization, and systemic risk. •  India’s ambition to be a global hub: should carriers double down on regional connectivity, long-haul expansion, or partnerships? •  Air India’s post-privatization struggles and what it could learn from South Korea’s model of global talent and best practices. •  Disruptive shifts in aviation—from AI and machine learning to evolving fleet strategies—and what’s hype versus reality. •  The next frontier for aviation analytics, misunderstood metrics like load factors and yields, and Courtney’s favorite airline innovation he’d copy worldwide. Along the way, expect witty detours (including a Ryanair comparison), sharp insights on pricing (“AI doesn’t always mean personalized pricing”), and a candid look at how data has evolved in aviation decision-making over the past five years. The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast apps.

What does it take to reimagine flight for India’s cities — and make it affordable, scalable, and safe? In this episode of The Indian AvGeek, I sit down with Prof. Satya Chakravarthy, Founder, CEO-CTO of The ePlane Company and long-time professor at IIT Madras, to explore how deep-tech innovation is reshaping the skies above us. From his early fascination with aerospace engineering to his bold leap from academia into ventures like ePlane and Agnikul Cosmos, Prof. Chakravarthy shares the sparks that drive him to tackle frontier problems. We dive into his concept of “defrastructure” — the invisible backbone of future mobility — and how it guides his work across aviation, space, and urban transport. Together, we unpack: •  🚁 The design philosophy behind ePlane’s compact eVTOLs and the balancing act of range, payload, and cost •  🛫 The regulatory gauntlet of securing DGCA’s Design Organisation Approval and lessons learned •  🔬 The breakthrough of “aerodynamic synergy” in the e200X and why 196+ design iterations were worth it •  🌆 The roadmap to commercial operations, early customer reactions, and how India’s cities might embrace air taxis •  🌍 India’s place in the global aerospace race — from UAM to rocketry, and even the possibility of a homegrown civilian airliner •  💡 Insights from global peers like Joby, Archer, and EHang, and what India can adapt for its own skies •  👩‍💻 His advice for young engineers and entrepreneurs daring to build at the edge of science and business Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A deep dive into the tech, governance, and everyday friction of modern air travel with the person who helped turn a fringe idea into India’s biometric travel backbone. Suresh Khadakbhavi walks us from a muddy auto ride before his BIAL interview to the pilot with Jet Airways that proved passenger-first biometrics could scale nationally and explains how Digi Yatra is designed to enable seamless journeys without becoming a surveillance system. What you’ll hear in this episode •  A vivid origin story of how aviation and Suresh found each other, including a memorable muddy-ride interview anecdote that ended with an emergency wardrobe buy. •  The spark inside BIAL’s Innovation Lab that birthed the “walk-through-all-touchpoints-with-no-one-stopping-you” idea and how rapid passenger feedback at BLR turned a developer’s dream into a national program. •  How the 2017 Jet Airways pilot validated core assumptions, which insights convinced stakeholders to scale, and the unexpected operational learnings from working with airlines. •  A clear, technical separation between Digi Yatra’s decentralized self‑sovereign identity model and centralized surveillance systems, plus exactly what data touches external servers during a Digi Yatra transaction. •  The governance and technical design choices made to prevent mission creep and ensure passenger privacy. •  Practical reasons why adoption feels voluntary yet operationally nudged, and how airports balance efficiency with genuine choice. •  Measurable operational wins, including reduced processing times at entry gates and the downstream economics that happier, faster passengers bring to airports and retail. •  The role of partner integrations—airlines, OTAs, and apps—in making Digi Yatra the travel stack for India and the roadmap to gate-level boarding automation. •  International ambitions, collaboration with IATA’s One‑ID work, and the vision for Digi Yatra to interoperate with EU credentials and other global systems for borderless travel. •  Near-term product roadmap highlights: AI-driven multilingual chatbots, anti-spoofing measures, expanded onboarding flows, and pilots beyond airports into hotels and other travel touchpoints. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Indian AvGeek, we welcome Ameya Joshi, Founder of NetworkThoughts.com to unpack Delhi Airport’s rise as a global transfer hub, explore underserved corridors, and chart India’s changing network dynamics. From terminal revamps and new mega-hubs to airline slot wars and bold contrarian forecasts, Ameya lays out the strategic moves that will define the next decade of Indian aviation. ✈️ In this discussion, we explore Delhi Airport’s remarkable transformation into a global transit hub, with international-to-international transfers surging 244%. This impressive growth positions Delhi as the best directly connected airport to North America and Europe in South and Southeast Asia. ✈️ Our conversation covers Delhi’s strategic positioning on the East-West corridor, particularly highlighting the success of the Central Asia-Southeast Asia route, where IndiGo’s connections between Bangkok, Phuket and Central Asian cities like Almaty, Tashkent, Tbilisi, and Baku alone drove a 500% increase in transit traffic. We discuss what Delhi Airport needs to become more competitive globally, including infrastructure improvements to Terminal 3 and the potential game-changing impact of an inter-terminal train system. ✈️ The episode delves into Air India’s evolving hub strategy at Delhi, including the recent announcement that 60 of its 180 daily domestic departures will relocate. We examine how this restructuring supports Air India’s European expansion and smaller station connectivity ambitions ✈️ Looking ahead, we discuss the imminent opening of two crucial airports: Noida International Airport (DXN) at Jewar, set to be inaugurated in few weeks, with commercial operations beginning within 45 days and an initial capacity of 12 million passengers annually, and how it might take three years to reach full capacity. We also touch on Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), inaugurating this month with the potential to reach its 20 million passenger capacity within the first year of operations ✈️ The discussion turns to India’s evolving airline landscape, where Akasa Air has ascended to become the country’s third-largest carrier. We analyze what it will take for Akasa to solidify its position beyond simply benefiting from SpiceJet’s operational challenges. Speaking of SpiceJet, we examine their puzzling strategy of inducting an Airbus A340 on wet lease, arriving by September-end 2025, potentially for London routes via Gatwick or Stansted ✈️ We explore IndiGo’s strategic partnerships, particularly their collaboration with the SkyTeam alliance carriers including Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, positioning them for deeper European and North American connectivity. The episode addresses IndiGo’s upcoming Athens route using India’s first Airbus A321XLR, with six weekly flights split between Delhi and Mumbai starting January 2026. We debate whether the Delhi-Athens market can support both IndiGo and Aegean Airlines’ planned services and discuss the implications for route development. ✈️ Finally, we explore the future of Indian aviation, including the potential for joint venture agreements between Indian and international carriers, the impact of New Distribution Capability (NDC) on revenue management, and bold predictions for India’s aviation landscape over the next 18-24 months. Ameya shares his take on India-Dubai and India-Singapore bilateral capacity, questioning whether relaxed restrictions would truly generate additional demand given current market dynamics. ✈️ Throughout our discussion, we examine how infrastructure constraints, geopolitical factors, and competitive dynamics shape India’s aviation future, while Delhi Airport positions itself among the world’s top five airports within the next decade. Ameya Joshi - @khabri_lal Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A milestone episode for The Indian AvGeek. For our fiftieth show we welcome Nathaniel Pieper, an airline lifer who now leads Oneworld. Expect a conversation that blends airline boardroom strategy with the pure joy of flight — fleet tales, alliance chess, lounge plans for India, and the kind of technical nitty gritty only someone who’s ridden the industry for decades can tell. ✈️ How it began — Nat’s first sparks for aviation and the formative moments that steered him from Northwest to a career shaped around alliances and network strategy. ✈️ Alliances as vocation — Why alliances became a repeated thread through his roles at Northwest, Delta, Alaska and now as Oneworld CEO ✈️ Fleet futures — A frank take on the Airbus A321XLR’s ambition to deliver 757-like range and economics and how that shapes network planning ✈️ Lessons learnt from Alaska Airlines — How leading Alaska’s Oneworld entry and previous alliance work at Delta inform Nat’s priorities and decision-making ✈️ Oneworld’s identity — A clear articulation of the alliance’s value for member airlines and passengers and how Oneworld positions itself differently from Star Alliance and SkyTeam. The practical criteria, simulations and KPIs Oneworld uses when evaluating new members to strengthen network value rather than dilute it ✈️ India on the radar — Why India matters for Oneworld, the current absence of an Indian member, and the concrete alliance benefits that can be tailored for Indian flyers including loyalty, network connectivity and premium services beyond lounges. ✈️ Oneworld lounge in India — The roadmap for up to 10 new Oneworld lounges in the coming years and the practical hurdles and opportunities of opening lounges in Indian airports ✈️ Codeshares versus alliances — How airlines like IndiGo choose between codeshares, multilateral alliances, or remaining unaligned and what strategic tradeoffs CXOs weigh ✈️ Segmenting the alliance — Whether Oneworld will remain a unified network or evolve into layered offerings to partner with LCCs for VFR and leisure demand without eroding premium yields ✈️ Commercial returns of an alliance — The financial and operational KPIs that justify alliance investment, and how ROI is measured across fees, shared revenue and resource commitments ✈️ Network coordination — The role Oneworld plays in reducing route duplication while growing members’ networks and where member autonomy still rules ✈️ Technology and distribution — Oneworld’s perspective on NDC, digital distribution, dynamic packaging and the technology roadmap that will enable seamless passenger experiences ✈️ Personal moments — Nat’s favourite airline, his most memorable flights from a passenger and executive point of view, and why keeping a flight journal since 2006 defines him as one of us. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Indian AvGeek continues to be India’s premier aviation podcast, bringing you fortnightly deep dives into airlines, airports, industry trends, and the personalities shaping the world of aviation.

Episode 49 features Jay Shabat, the founder of Airline Weekly (now Skift Airline Weekly) and senior aviation analyst at Skift. In this episode, Jay shares his unique journey from revenue analyst at US Airways to becoming one of the industry’s most respected voices, teaching IATA courses worldwide, and publishing influential industry analysis. Along the way, Jay shares timeless lessons, academic insights, and behind-the-scenes moments that shaped his view of the industry’s peaks and troughs. In this wide-ranging conversation, we unpack: •  Key drivers of record global demand and the premium cabin boom through 2026 •  The future of consolidation, alliances, and potential break-ups in global aviation (Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country, JetBlue, Southwest) •  India’s domestic duopoly, factors behind its rapid expansion, and how IndiGo is positioning to crack intercontinental flying •  Emerging hot spots: Saudi and Middle East ambitions with Riyadh Air; lessons from Latin America and Africa for India’s next billion flyers •  The AI revolution in revenue management, pricing strategy, and customer experience •  Jay’s crystal-ball view of 2030: market structure, technology, and the passenger experience •  His one strategic recommendation for India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation—what to prioritise first, airlines or airports? Tune in for a narrative that blends Jay’s real-world data analysis, storytelling flair, and actionable insights into the global charts—and India’s place among them. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode 48 of The Indian AvGeek featured Behramjee Ghadially, Senior Manager, Route Network Planning at CAMAIR and aviation analyst. We unpacked the latest in network planning, fleet deployment, and market opportunities across Asia, Africa, and the Gulf. The show was led, however, with the revival of India–China direct flights and how airlines like Air India and IndiGo are positioned to capitalize on this reopening. Before the suspension in 2020, the route network included 539 monthly flights, with Chinese carriers dominating approximately 70% of capacity. Behramjee provides insights into which routes should be prioritized first - Beijing, Shanghai, or emerging destinations like Hangzhou and Shenzhen that can be efficiently served by narrow-body aircraft, and if Akasa would like to throw its hat in the ring! We also discussed in detail Ethiopian’s growing footprint in India, Thai and Lufthansa’s alliance-driven strategies, and Emirates’ evolving role in the subcontinent. Expect data-driven insights, candid takes on livery faux pas, and a lightning AvGeek quiz that I failed and passed! You will hear comprehensive insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of international aviation connectivity between India and key global markets. From network planning strategies to aircraft economics, fleet deployment decisions to competitive positioning—this conversation covers the full spectrum of modern airline operations and strategic planning. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode number 47 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal sits down with Mike Malik—veteran airline sales leader turned marketing chief at Cirium, to trace a remarkable journey through aviation. From sales at American Airlines and leading Aloha Air Cargo to co-founding Maxjet, Mike shares stories of entrepreneurial grit and strategic pivots that shaped his career. We then dive into Cirium’s mission: how this data powerhouse powers on-time performance reports, underpins airport and airline planning, and supports emerging markets like India with analytics on regional connectivity, network optimization, and sustainability. Along the way, Mike reflects on rebranding FlightGlobal into a unified Cirium, the challenges of old IT systems (remember only 26 fare buckets?), and the future of aviation tech—from AI assistants baked into operations tools to new products tailor-made for Asia-Pacific growth. Key topics covered include: • Mike’s early days in airline sales and the genesis of Maxjet’s low-fare, all-business-class model • Cirium’s customers, core offerings, and impact of its On-Time Performance rankings • The role of data and analytics in optimizing routes, regional connectivity, and profitability in India • Challenges of digital transformation in airlines and how to overcome legacy IT constraints • Leveraging data for sustainability, environmental tracking, and new green aviation solutions • Insights on Asia-Pacific expansion, Cirium’s brand vision, and products beyond Emerald Sky • Advice for young professionals entering aviation analytics or airline management • Leadership lessons in driving innovation, transformation, and buy-in across people and processes Whether you’re an aviation insider, data geek, or simply curious about how numbers shape every takeoff and landing, this episode delivers fresh perspectives on the present and future of global and Indian aviation. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This isn’t just a cabin tour with John Walton, Editor-in-Chief, The Up Front—it’s a conversation about culture, ambition, and the art and science of making every inch of metal feel like home. Whether you’re an AvGeek, a frequent-flyer strategist, or simply curious about how airlines craft memorable journeys, John’s insider stories and strategic insights will equip you to see every flight in a whole new light. * The spark that drew John into the world of premium cabins and #PaxEx * Two decades of luxury in the sky: flatbeds, studio suites, and beyond * The Emirates “Game Changer” enigma: 9 out of 250 aircraft, and what it says about marketing vs. reality * The surprise seat launch of the last five years—and why it turned heads * IndiGo’s premiumization playbook, from Mumbai-Manchester, as well as Amsterdam, and its A350 seat puzzle * Alliance chatter: Could 6E formally join SkyTeam (and what that means for frequent flyers)? * Air India’s J-class Collins Horizon Premier and the Safran Unity saga behind the scenes * First class on the 777X: dreams, delays, and design cues from AI’s leadership * Economy innovation at Emirates: height-boosted seats, tech-driven comfort, and certification hurdles * Insider takeaways from Paris Air Show and the unsung ATR deal brewing at IndiGo * Wide-body retrofit opportunities outlined in John’s new publication, The Up Front * The most underrated seat John’s flown—and the stealthy airline quietly winning at PaxEx * A glimpse at 2025’s hottest new suites and their decade-defining potential * If John could redesign one element of air travel, what would it be—and why does it matter to you John Walton - @thatjohn Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this special edition of The Indian AvGeek, we have three of India’s leading aviation experts—Sanjay Lazar, Devesh Agarwal, and Captain Kishore Chinta—to dissect the preliminary AI171 crash report. Through a blend of technical insight and human-factors analysis, they chart the accident timeline, examine cockpit ergonomics, and question the selective data release by AAIB. From the fuel control switch movements in the EAFR data to the haunting cockpit voice exchanges about who “cut off” the engines, our panel explores: - Initial reactions to the preliminary report - How EAFR switch positions frame the crash sequence - Pilot decision-making and stress at low altitude - Possible motives behind withholding CVR and DFDR transcripts - Technical and aerodynamic reasons for asymmetric engine relight - Implications for cockpit switch-locking designs and walk-around call-outs - Relevance of FAA’s 2018 SAIB NM-18-33 on fuel-switch locks - The curious omission of GE’s GEnx-1B SB 73-0097 R01 from the report - Distinctions between mandatory and advisory safety bulletins - Priorities after RAT deployment: MAYDAY, systems configuration, or flying the profile - Intuitiveness of the 787’s fuel-control layout and best practices to prevent inadvertent cuts - Mechanics of international cooperation among AAIB, NTSB, DGCA, and others - Potential global ripple effects on Boeing 787 operations - Critical evidence and analysis are still needed for a conclusive investigation - How the scope and timeline of the final report will differ from preliminary findings Captain Kishore Chinta - ⁠@Capt_CK⁠ Sanjay Lazar - ⁠@SJLazars⁠ Devesh Agarwal - ⁠@BLRaviation⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎙️ In this riveting conversation, Jean-Pierre Clercin, Commercial Head of ATR in APAC, talks us through the evolving turboprop narrative in India and beyond. From new orders at the Paris Air Show 2025 to insights on regional connectivity, we dig into how ATR plans to serve a fast-growing Indian market projected to need 200+ ATR aircraft. JP candidly reflects on the U.S. market and the dominance of RJs, IndiGo, Fly91, ATR’s monopoly status post-Q400, and whether final assembly lines in India are on the cards. We also explore supply chain advantages, ecosystem building with universities, and the company’s vision for India's regional aviation over the next 10–15 years. There’s laughter, nuance, and even a flashback to ATR’s first pitch to IndiGo. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, The Indian AvGeek dives deep with Brian Sumers, founder and editor of The Airline Observer. From the emotional roots of his aviation journey to hot takes from the IATA AGM in New Delhi, Brian reflects on how airline strategy, sustainability, and industry dynamics are evolving. We unpack IndiGo’s rise, Air India’s international ambitions, and Rakesh Gangwal’s legacy, while sizing up the future of supersonic travel and aircraft innovation like JetZero. A sharp look at India’s ascent in global aviation—and the turbulence that still lies ahead. The Indian AvGeek streams on all major podcast platforms. Brian Sumers - @briansumers Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The world’s most renowned points & miles guru, the founder of The Points Guy, Brian Kelly, joins this episode of The Indian AvGeek. Brian talks in detail about the growth of the points and miles scene worldwide and how it has evolved. We spoke extensively about his new book, “How to Win at Travel,” sharing key insights for travelers and points enthusiasts alike. Brian spoke about how consumers seem more loyal to their credit card companies than airlines and why getting an airline-specific credit card mostly results in heartbreak. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week Arvind Chandrasekhar, the Director of Sales India and Head of Network, Fleet Management at Lufthansa Consulting, discusses in detail the world of aviation consulting. We delve deep into the business of airports in India, ranging from the projects undertaken by Lufthansa Consulting to challenges & opportunities for airport infrastructure in the country for the next five years.  We also discuss “Make vs Buy,” airport commercial and marketing teams, the geoeconomics of MROs, lessons from European hubs, Indigo and Low Cost Long Haul and various other topics. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The 40th episode of The Indian AvGeek features Abhijit DasGupta, the head of planning and revenue management at IndiGo. Abhijit details everything, from his background at Jet Airways to joining IndiGo & the first challenge he had. We discussed how new routes are selected, decisions on fleet orders, working with airport marketing teams, lease operations with Turkish Airlines, the importance of connecting traffic, the involvement of Indian carriers in next-gen aircraft, premiumization strategy, DXN/NMI, hub development, XLRs, ACMI leases, Norse Atlantic 789s, what IndiGo of the future looks like, UDAN, Boeing!, IATA AGM 2025, and much more. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Brett Snyder, the founder of Cranky Flier and the host of The Air Show podcast, joins to discuss a wide variety of issues. From the impact of tariffs on aviation to Boeing and Airbus, Embraer’s NGNB, the importance of the Indian market for US airlines, Norse Atlantic planes with IndiGo, XLRs, Air India, regional aviation, Alaska Airlines’ plans for India, next-generation aircraft, and lessons that smaller Indian airlines can draw from the US market on how to compete with the Goliaths. Brett Snyder - ⁠@crankyflier⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Pradeep Panicker (CEO of Hyderabad International Airport) joins episode 38 to discuss near and long-term plans for the airport, one of the most important in the country. We discuss the reasons for HYD’s success, future infrastructure plans, sensory passenger experience, how the airport attracts international airlines, identification of lateral demand, opening new domestic city pairs, regional aviation, cargo plans, MRO, connecting traffic at the airport, and even Groupe ADP. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mauro Oretti joins the podcast to talk about alliances in detail. We discussed mergers vs. alliances. Entries and exits at SkyTeam: What does success look like to the alliance? The lack of Indian carriers in the alliance— if the close partnership with KLM-AF would lead to IndiGo becoming a member, the importance of the Indian market, SkyTeam-branded lounges, the next-generation alliance, SkyTeam’s 25th anniversary celebrations at IATA AGM, and the future of airline alliances. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director of AeroDynamic Advisory, joins me to discuss various topics, ranging from the past to the present and the future of the aviation industry. We discuss his thoughts on the A, B, C, and E of the sector - Airbus, Boeing, Comac, and Embraer - in detail. Right from their existing aircraft programs to their future plans. We also discuss Richard’s detailed views on the Indian airlines and how they can have an outsized global impact, influence future aircraft development, and influence the supply chain around it. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode number 35 of The Indian AvGeek features Alok Anand, from Acumen Aviation, continuing our in-depth chat from last week about aircraft leasing in India and the various intricacies around the business. In this episode we dive deeper into different types of leasing models (SLB and PLB), how Indian airlines are leasing, why it is essential to have a homegrown aircraft leasing industry in the country, anecdotes from Alok’s career, assessment of profitability and risks in leasing, why lessors often don’t buy aircraft directly, and the challenges for aviation in the next five years. https://www.flightpathwithalok.com/ Alok Anand - @AlokAnand77 Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Just as the Indian Parliament approved a bill to empower Cape Town convention and aircraft protocol, Alok Anand joined us to give an in-depth perspective of the Indian aircraft leasing market, how the entire process works, wet and dry leasing, as well as leasing done via GIFT City by Indian airlines so far and if it is any good? Alok Anand - @AlokAnand77 Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I caught up with Rafat just a few days after the conclusion of a very successful Skift India Forum 2025. We engaged in a comprehensive conversation about the power of travel, the intricate relationship with aviation, the Indian market, and the potential benefits of a "connected trip." We also discussed in detail his thoughts on Air India and IndiGo, the potential of artificial intelligence in travel, and how airlines can work more closely with other players in the sector, including hotels, to up their game! Rafat Ali - @rafat Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode number 32 features Daniel Bircher, Chairman and MD at the Noida International Airport. Detailed discussion involving all aspects of the airport launching soon. ✈️Daniel’s background in aviation, how he got into the business. ✈️His time at BLR as the director of operations. How those learnings are helping him at DXN? ✈️When will DXN commence operations? ✈️Will cargo operations start earlier or passenger operations? ✈️Will DXN compete with DEL or complement DEL? ✈️Primary catchment area of the airport. ✈️How is DXN attracting traffic and airlines from DEL? Will it become Code F compliant? ✈️PaxEx features at the airport, contract, or airline led lounges? ✈️Domestic and international airline partners at the start. ✈️What’s DXN’s pitch to international airlines? ✈️Domestic/International traffic mix in the first 12 months. ✈️How will DXN support regional aviation? ✈️When will the flight to Zurich from DXN happen? ✈️MRO, Cargo, and General Aviation plans at DXN. ✈️Global trends in airport management. ✈️Split between aero/non-aero revenue. ✈️Retail, duty-free and F&B mix at the airport. ✈️The importance of Skytrax for airport operators. ✈️What challenges do airport operators in India face? ✈️What are the future expansion plans of the Noida International Airport? ✈️Will Zurich Airports look at other greenfield/brownfield airport development opportunities in India? Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This show features the co-founder and host of The Great Indian Points & Miles Show, Aadil Bandukwala. We break down points and miles scene for Indian travelers, both new and well-versed. ✈️ Points & miles landscape in India ✈️ Advice to get started in points & miles ✈️ Top tips for international redemptions ✈️ Top credit card recommendations ✈️ How to overcome redemption challenges? ✈️ Emerging trends and opportunities for travelers ✈️ Breaking down Emirates’ Skywards subscription ✈️ Air India Maharaja Club and IndiGo BluChip ✈️ Future of miles and points redemptions in India ✈️ Airline-Credit Card partnerships ✈️ All-time favorite in-flight experience ✈️ Apps & tools in use to keep track of points & miles Aadil Bandukwala - @aadil Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The 30th episode of The Indian AvGeek features a veteran of the global aviation industry. With all the news around IndiGo’s expansion into Europe, we sat down with the ex-CCO of IndiGo, Willy Boulter. - [ ] Willy’s start and background in the aviation industry - [ ] His time at Etihad and Jet Airways, working experience with Naresh Goyal - [ ] What made IndiGo such a massive success? - [ ] How was it working with Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal? - [ ] Rakesh Gangwal’s foresight about Jet Airways - [ ] The IndiGo of now vs the IndiGo he retired from - [ ] The idea to develop Tbilisi as a hub for Europe ops - [ ] When did IndiGo first think of having a WB aircraft? - [ ] Govt owned Air India vs. Tata owned Air India - [ ] Anecdotes about AI’s lousy work culture - [ ] IndiGo’s current fleet mix & if it betrays the classic LCA model - [ ] Should IndiGo have a scissor hub in Europe? - [ ] Possible IndiGo A350 destinations - [ ] Will IndiGo ever consider Embraer regional jets instead of the ATR? - [ ] Life post-retirement from IndiGo Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This is the second part of our conversation with Mark Ross-Smith, the CEO of Loyalty Status Co - StatusMatch. In this episode, we go deeper into the business of airline loyalty and status matching. * How does StatusMatch do its marketing? * The importance of points/miles websites * The power of authenticity in loyalty marketing * Story behind the viral “Chocolate Airlines,” which went viral * How an airline used numerology to understand pax * Priorities for StatusMatch in the Indian market * How can Indian FFPs differentiate themselves & monetize data? * The evergreen struggle between loyalty and revenue management in airlines * Understanding the lifetime value of passengers * How is hotel loyalty different from an airline? * What can hotels do to make their loyalty programs more attractive? * Is awarding lifetime status a loss-making exercise for airlines? * Future trends/innovations in airline loyalty programs Mark - ⁠@drdoot Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode features Mark Ross-Smith, the CEO of Loyalty Status Co - StatusMatch. We discussed the nitty-gritty of the airline loyalty and status matching industry. * How did he get to lead Malaysia Airlines’ Enrich FFP? * The story behind starting Status Match * The status of Indian airline loyalty market * How has loyalty and status matching evolved into a multi-billion dollar ancillary revenue industry for airlines? * Global insights and trends in the industry that Indian carriers can adopt * Size of Indian business, which airline is seeing maximum traction? * How come StatusMatch hasn’t onboarded Air India Maharaja Club yet? * Most successful airline partner? * How can airlines increase their ancillary revenue? * If a large number of flyers get status easily, what would that mean for the airline and industry? Mark - ⁠@drdoot Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The 27th episode of The Indian AvGeek features Evan from ⁠AnalyticFlying.com⁠. We mainly focus on the upcoming wide body aircraft for Air India and IndiGo. * How does the A321 XLR compare to Boeing’s offerings in the same market segment * IndiGo’s wet lease induction of Norse 787-9s * How will Air India use its upcoming A350-900s and A35Ks * How is IndiGo expected to use its A359s, once they get delivered * How does the Boeing Dreamliner compare to the Airbus A350 * Air India’s great fleet flex, giving them scale and ULH capabilities * How and where Air India is expected to use its 777X’s Evan - ⁠@analyticflying⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week on The Indian AvGeek, we turn our focus on the India-US market and its potential. Vinay Bhaskara joins us on the show to talk about that and also about artificial intelligence in the industry: * How can artificial intelligence and aviation come together? * AI & NDC. How can that lead to smarter, better reservation systems and GDS? * How can artificial intelligence add value to airports? * State of the India-US market * Delving deep into DFW, from HYD and DEL * New routes US airlines will launch into India * Alaska’s plan for SEA-BLR * Current network of US airlines into India and how that can potentially expand? * Indian market challenges for US airlines, as well as advantages they have * How will US3 compete against MEB3 for the Indian market? * The future of India-US air travel market Vinay Bhaskara- ⁠ @theABVinay Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It’s the quarter-century episode of the Indian AvGeek and do we have a striker or what? Evan from ⁠AnalyticFlying.com⁠. We are diving into Airbus’s latest and greatest: .Is the A321 XLR a misunderstood aircraft? .Has aircraft marketing been taken too seriously? .What makes the XLR different from other aircraft in the A320 family? .IndiGo and the curious case of the Airbus A321 XLRWhat kind of hard product will IndiGo’s XLRs get? .Why can’t DEL-LON happen on an A321 XLR? .Why is Frankfurt a likely choice for IndiGo’s XLR ops? .Which European & African stations can IndiGo possibly open with the XLR? .How will Air India’s A321 XLR plans possibly differ from IndiGo’s? Evan - ⁠@analyticflying⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The second and final part of our 2025 industry forecast. We started our discussion straightaway with a banger: Which global airlines are waiting in the wings to launch routes to India? Once that was out of the way, we also discussed: * Air India’s international expansion plans * The US Big3’s plan for the Indian market * Will Air India get A350Ks this year from Airbus? Or an IPO? * Akasa’s strategy for the year ahead. Will that involve a premium play? * Regional Airlines and the year ahead * Should we expect new aircraft types to be ordered by Indian airlines in 2025? * Airbus and Boeing’s plan for India in 2025 * Which new international routes should we expect this year? * The year ahead for DEL, BOM, and BLR Ajay Awtaney - ⁠⁠@livefromalounge⁠⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week Ajay Awtaney forecasts the year ahead for Indian aviation with me. We discussed IATA’s projections and the expected profitability for Indian airlines. Besides that: * Biggest tech advancements coming up in 2025 * Most critical challenge for MoCA and DGCA this year * How are airlines preparing to meet increased travel demand? * IndiGo’s plans for 2025 * The developing complex fleet of IndiGo * PaxEx discussion around A321 XLR * Where can we expect IndiGo to dispatch its upcoming XLRs And more. Ajay Awtaney - ⁠@livefromalounge⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode number 22 of The Indian AvGeek features Sidharth Grover, Director of Communications and Marketing at Star Alliance. We started the discussion with Sid’s background at SpiceJet and Vistara before he moved on to Star Alliance. We spoke about the future of airline alliances, how the alliances do marketing, co-ordinating with all 25 partner airlines, future initiatives, the importance of Indian market, the entry of LCAs & other intermodal partners in Star Alliance, and the emerging trends around the industry. Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode number 21 of The Indian AvGeek features Devesh Agarwal (BLRAviation) chatting with me on the final part of the 2024 recap for Indian aviation. This week, we started with the leading airports of the country (DEL, BOM, BLR), moved to Boeing, and then Airbus as OEMs. We touched on regional aviation in the country and how 2024 was an important year for it before diving into SpiceJet and Air India. Devesh Agarwal - ⁠⁠@BLRAviation⁠⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Episode number 20 of The Indian AvGeek features Devesh Agarwal (BLRAviation) recapping important events of Indian aviation in 2024. We discussed important laws and directives brought in by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, before discussing IndiGo’s year in detail. We also discussed Akasa, its highlights and troubles, as well as the demise of Jet Airways and Go First. It is a loaded first part of the special two-part year ender. Devesh Agarwal - ⁠@BLRAviation⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week’s show has Jagriti talking about her background in aviation journalism, stories that she is proud of covering, Air India’s latest additional 100 aircraft order, FDTL norms for Indian pilots, wet leasing rules revamp by DGCA, gender rights in Indian aviation circles, and much more. Jagriti Chandra - ⁠@jagritichandra⁠ Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠