The Indian #AvGeek
Every fortnight, Vishal Mehra goes deep with airline CEOs and COOs, airport route-development chiefs, OEM leaders, loyalty heads and the analysts who keep them honest, from DEL and BOM to AMS, FRA, DFW and beyond. Networks, fleets, slots, alliances, PaxEx and the economics behind every decision. The name is Indian. The conversation is global. The subject is always the business of aviation. The Indian AvGeek is India's top aviation podcast. www.TheIndianGeek.com
Aviation India 2026 Debrief feat. Mark Pilling (Conference Director, Aviation India 2026)
India has ordered hundreds of aircraft, is building airports at breakneck speed, and wants to become a global aviation powerhouse. There's just one small detail: its airlines need to make money.
At Aviation India 2026, Willie Walsh, Tewolde Gebremariam and Arun Bansal took to the stage to discuss the future of Indian aviation. The man asking the questions was Mark Pilling, veteran aviation journalist, Managing Editor within the Aviation Week Network, and Conference Director of Aviation India.
For this special, out-of-turn Episode 83 of The Indian AvGeek, the tables have turned. Mark joins Vishal Mehra to reveal...
Inside oneworld Alliance feat. Roger Blackburn & Gilbert Ott
Fifteen airlines. One alliance. Millions of frequent flyers. And a rather complicated question: how do you make it all work as one?
For Episode 82 of The Indian AvGeek, our Diwali Special, Vishal Mehra is joined by two people who understand the machinery behind oneworld better than anybody: Roger Blackburn, VP Commercial & Loyalty, and Gilbert Ott, Director, Loyalty.
We get into the questions that rarely make it into airline press releases.
Why doesn't oneworld have an Indian member airline? Could Delhi or Mumbai eventually get a dedicated oneworld lounge? Who actually pays when four...
Why Airlines Fail: The WOW Air & PLAY Story feat. Birgir Jonsson (Ex-CEO, Play Airlines)
Why do Iceland's low-cost airlines keep going bust, and can long-haul low-cost ever work?
In Episode 81 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra speaks with Birgir Jonsson, founding CEO of PLAY Airlines, former Deputy CEO of WOW air & former CEO of Iceland Express. Three airlines, one vantage point on the low-cost transatlantic model.
In this episode:
- Why Iceland Express was the only profitable airline Birgir worked at
- How Iceland's hub-and-spoke model really makes money (hint: not from connecting passengers)
- Whether the...
All Routes Lead to Rome feat. Federico Scriboni (Director Aviation, ADR)
Rome Fiumicino has grown into a 51 million-passenger global hub and India is firmly on its radar for what comes next.
In Episode 80 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra speaks with Federico Scriboni, Director Aviation Business Development at Aeroporti di Roma, about how airports actually build airline networks, identify new routes and convince carriers that a market can work.
Federico explains ADR’s “magic triangle” of route development — market opportunity, commercial and marketing support, and operational execution and takes us inside Fiumicino’s next phase of growth.
We discuss Air India and ITA Airways between De...
The Art of Winning Airline Routes feat. Leon Verhallen (Dir Aviation Development, Brussels Airport)
What does it actually take to convince an airline to deploy a $200 million aircraft on a brand new route?
On Episode 79 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra sits down with Leon Verhallen, Director Aviation Development at Brussels Airport Company, to look at the business of airport route development.
Few people have watched European aviation evolve from as many vantage points as Leon. He began his career at Fokker, spent years helping develop Amsterdam Schiphol during its emergence as one of Europe's great hubs, and has spent nearly two decades...
The Invisible Operating System of Aviation feat. Somit Goyal (CEO, IBS Software)
Every time you book a flight, check in online, or reserve an in-flight sleeping pod, there is a high-tech engine working silently behind the curtain. In Episode 78 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Somit Goyal, CEO of IBS Software.
Bringing an enterprise tech background from Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle, Somit shares a frank assessment of aviation's legacy technology debt, why NDC is merely an infrastructure "plumbing fix," and how cloud-native, AI-first architectures are transforming commercial and flight operations globally.
In this episode, they dive into real-world...
The Invisible Operating System of Aviation feat. Somit Goyal (CEO, IBS Software)
On many flights you have taken - the booking, the check-in, the cargo hold below your feet, the crew rescheduling when things go wrong, is running on software you've never heard of. That software is IBS.In Episode 78 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Somit Goyal, CEO of IBS Software, for one of the most technically rich conversations on this channel. Somit comes to aviation from Microsoft, SAP and Oracle, he's spent two years dismantling the assumption that aviation is "too complex" for modern enterprise software thinking.Episode Timestamps
00:04 – Welcome to Episode 78 00:57 – Debunking the...
Inside The Airport Tech Race feat. Sunil Ankalgi (Business Head, WAISL)
If you've ever walked through an airport terminal and wondered who keeps it all running, this episode is for you.
In Episode 77 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra interviews Sunil Ankalgi, Business Head at WAISL Limited (Ex-Amadeus, Ex-SITA), to discuss the complex digital infra powering modern airports. From why legacy global platforms struggle to keep pace with Indian growth to what an actual Digital Twin does versus a glorified analytics dashboard, this episode strips away the hype around airport tech.
Key Highlights:
Who is the Real Customer? Balancing airlines, airport operators, governments, and passengers. ...Inside The Airport Tech Race feat. Sunil Ankalgi (Business Head, WAISL)
If you've ever walked through an airport terminal and wondered who keeps it all running, this episode is for you.
In Episode 77 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra interviews Sunil Ankalgi, Business Head at WAISL Limited (Ex-Amadeus, Ex-SITA), to discuss the complex digital infra powering modern airports. From why legacy global platforms struggle to keep pace with Indian growth to what an actual Digital Twin does versus a glorified analytics dashboard, this episode strips away the hype around airport tech.
Key Highlights:
Royal Jordanian’s Big Bet on India & Levant feat. Karim Makhlouf (CCO, Royal Jordanian Airlines)
In Episode 76 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Karim Makhlouf, CCO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, for a deep dive in global aviation strategy.
Karim shares commercial insights from his 27-year career, pioneering €19 fare drops at Germanwings, navigating mid-sized flag carrier challenges at Malév Hungary, and launching premium startups like SaudiGulf.
He breaks down Royal Jordanian’s roadmap to 52 aircraft by 2032, the performance of the Mumbai and Delhi routes, GTF engine insulation tactics, and turning empty seats into high-yield tourism via the ExplorJordan platform.
<...
Royal Jordanian’s Big Bet on India & Levant feat. Karim Makhlouf (CCO, Royal Jordanian Airlines)
In Episode 76 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Karim Makhlouf, COO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, for a deep dive in global aviation strategy.
Karim shares commercial insights from his 27-year career, pioneering €19 fare drops at Germanwings, navigating mid-sized flag carrier challenges at Malév Hungary, and launching premium startups like SaudiGulf.
He breaks down Royal Jordanian’s roadmap to 52 aircraft by 2032, the performance of the Mumbai and Delhi routes, GTF engine insulation tactics, and turning empty seats into high-yield tourism via the ExplorJordan platform.
The Indian AvGeek strea...
Inside Indian Aviation's Biggest Week with Tewolde & Willie Walsh (Ameya Joshi & Sean Mendis)
In a wild 48 hour window, Indian aviation delivered a decade’s worth of news, forcing an emergency out-of-turn Episode 75 of The Indian AvGeek! Air India named Ethiopian Airlines architect Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO. Simultaneously, IndiGo has got industry heavyweight Willie Walsh right as it marks its 20th anniversary. To top it off, IndiGo quietly pulled back its leased Boeing 787 long-haul operations, while Air India went on the offensive, expanding North American routes and upgrading its Toronto services.
Host Vishal Mehra sits down with aviation experts Sean Mendis and Ameya Joshi (NetworkThoughts) to break down this hi...
Inside Indian Aviation's Biggest Week with Tewolde & Willie Walsh (Ameya Joshi & Sean Mendis) - The Indian AvGeek Episode 75
In a wild 48 hour window, Indian aviation delivered a decade’s worth of news, forcing an emergency out-of-turn Episode 75 of The Indian AvGeek! Air India named Ethiopian Airlines architect Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO. Simultaneously, IndiGo has got industry heavyweight Willie Walsh right as it marks its 20th anniversary. To top it off, IndiGo quietly pulled back its leased Boeing 787 long-haul operations, while Air India went on the offensive, expanding North American routes and upgrading its Toronto services.
Host Vishal Mehra sits down with aviation experts Sean Mendis and Ameya Joshi (NetworkThoughts) to br...
Why Airline Loyalty Ends Too Soon? feat. Safir Jamal (Founder & CEO, Passtination)
Why does airline loyalty vanish the exact moment your luggage hits the arrival carousel?
In Episode 74 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Safir Jamal, Founder & CEO of Passtination (and creator of Global Nomad Pass). Safir spent over a decade driving global strategy for giants like Procter & Gamble and Ford before turning his attention to a major flaw in aviation: airlines understand you as a passenger in seat 14C, but have zero idea who you are as a person once you step out of the airport.
In this episode:
✈️ How travel spen...Why Airline Loyalty Ends Too Soon? feat. Safir Jamal (Founder & CEO, Passtination)
Why does airline loyalty vanish the exact moment your luggage hits the arrival carousel?
In Episode 74 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with Safir Jamal, Founder & CEO of Passtination (and creator of Global Nomad Pass). Safir spent over a decade driving global strategy for giants like Procter & Gamble and Ford before turning his attention to a major flaw in aviation: airlines understand you as a passenger in seat 14C, but have zero idea who you are as a person once you step out of the airport.
...
Project Baraka & the Art of LCC Warfare feat. Antony Fernandes (Head Network Planning & Revenue Optimization, Jazeera Airways)
Episode 73 of The Indian AvGeek features Antony Oliver Fernandes, Head - Network Planning & Revenue Optimization at Jazeera Airways, for a conversation that runs from the ambitious, wide-body dreams of Kingfisher Airlines to rebuilding an entire airline's network from scratch in a matter of days.
✈️ From Kingfisher Airlines' wide-body ambitions to yield management, and what that taught him before he ever landed in the Gulf ✈️ Building Jazeera Airways' network thesis inside a market with no hub ambitions, a protected national carrier like Kuwait Airways, and tight bilateral and slot constraints ✈️ Inside Project Baraka: rebuilding Jazeera's network in a neighbouring market after...Project Baraka & the Art of LCC Warfare feat. Antony Fernandes (Head Network Planning & Revenue Optimization, Jazeera Airways)
Episode 73 of The Indian AvGeek features Antony Oliver Fernandes, Head - Network Planning & Revenue Optimization at Jazeera Airways, for a conversation that runs from the ambitious, wide-body dreams of Kingfisher Airlines to rebuilding an entire airline's network from scratch in a matter of days.
✈️ From Kingfisher Airlines' wide-body ambitions to yield management, and what that taught him before he ever landed in the Gulf
✈️ Building Jazeera Airways' network thesis inside a market with no hub ambitions, a protected national carrier like Kuwait Airways, and tight bilateral and slot constraints
✈️ Inside Project Baraka: rebu...
The Greek Coup & Expansion feat. Ioanna Papadopoulou (Director, Athens International Airport)
How does an airport leap from 21st to 2nd place in international connectivity rankings among major European hubs?
In the 72nd episode of The Indian AvGeek, we sit down with Ioanna Papadopoulou, the Director of Communications & Marketing at Athens International Airport (AIA), to talk one of the most fascinating growth stories in modern aviation. With India overtaking China as Greece’s leading long-haul market, Athens has positioned itself at the epicentre of a massive geopolitical and economic shift.
✈️ The inside story of how the conversation started, the narrative built to conv...
The Greek Coup & Expansion feat. Ioanna Papadopoulou (Director, Athens International Airport)
How does an airport leap from 21st to 2nd place in international connectivity rankings among major European hubs?
In the 72nd episode of The Indian AvGeek, we sit down with Ioanna Papadopoulou, the Director of Communications & Marketing at Athens International Airport (AIA), to talk one of the most fascinating growth stories in modern aviation. With India overtaking China as Greece’s leading long-haul market, Athens has positioned itself at the epicentre of a massive geopolitical and economic shift.
✈️ The inside story of how the conversation started, the narrative built to convince IndiGo, and how long-haul narrowbody econom...The Multi-Hub Myth feat. Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis
Episode 71 of The Indian AvGeek: Host Vishal Mehra sits down with two of the sharpest minds in the business.
Fresh off AviaDev 2026, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially join the show for an unfiltered, deeply analytical discussion on the geopolitical and structural shifts in aviation.
As India aggressively pursues a multi-hub model across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and even Rajkot. We look at whether India is making a strategic error by not doubling down on a single mega-hub. We break down the stark realities of IndiGo's massive scale versus its missing sixth-freedom strategy and evaluate how Air...
The Multi-Hub Myth feat. Behramjee Ghadially and Sean Mendis
Episode 71 of The Indian AvGeek, host Vishal Mehra sits down with two of the sharpest minds in the business.
Fresh off AviaDev 2026, Sean Mendis and Behramjee Ghadially join the show for an unfiltered, deeply analytical discussion on the geopolitical and structural shifts in aviation.
As India aggressively pursues a multi-hub model across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and even Rajkot. We look at whether India is making a strategic error by not doubling down on a single mega-hub. We break down the stark realities of IndiGo's massive scale versus its missing...
Will Delhi Do Dallas? feat. Chris McLaughlin (CEO, DFW - Dallas Fort Worth Intl Airport)
What does it take to run one of the world's largest, busiest aviation mega-hubs while actively chasing the world's fastest-growing aviation market? In Episode 70 of The Indian AvGeek, we sit down with Chris McLaughlin, CEO of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), to unpack the ultra-long-haul economics, airspace complexities, and massive infrastructure upgrades redefining global travel. Chris dives deep into the data behind why a direct DEL–DFW nonstop is "inevitable", how premium passenger demand from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad is shifting the calculus, and what the "last mile" hurdle truly is for Air India. We also explore the operational re...
Will Delhi Do Dallas? feat. Chris McLaughlin (CEO, DFW - Dallas Fort Worth Intl Airport)
What does it take to run one of the world's largest, busiest aviation mega-hubs while actively chasing the world's fastest-growing aviation market?
In Episode 70 of The Indian AvGeek, we sit down with Chris McLaughlin, CEO of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), to unpack the ultra-long-haul economics, airspace complexities, and massive infrastructure upgrades redefining global travel.
Chris dives deep into the data behind why a direct DEL–DFW nonstop is "inevitable", how premium passenger demand from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad is shifting the calculus, and what the "last mile" hu...
AIX 2026 & The PaxEx Paradox feat. Seth Miller (Founder, PaxEx.Aero)
What does it actually take to build a great passenger experience at 35,000 feet and who's keeping airlines honest when they fall short?
In Episode 69 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra sits down with Seth Miller, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PaxEx.Aero and host of the Dots, Lines & Destinations podcast, one of the sharpest minds covering in-flight product, cabin design, connectivity, and the business of passenger experience globally.
Fresh off AIX 2026, Seth and Vishal go deep on what was real versus what was theatre on the show floor, why Air...
AIX 2026 & The PaxEx Paradox feat. Seth Miller (Founder, PaxEx.Aero)
What does it actually take to build a great passenger experience at 35,000 feet and who's keeping airlines honest when they fall short? In Episode 69 of The Indian AvGeek, Vishal Mehra sits down with Seth Miller, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of PaxEx.Aero and host of the Dots, Lines & Destinations podcast, one of the sharpest minds covering in-flight product, cabin design, connectivity, and the business of passenger experience globally. Fresh off AIX 2026, Seth and Vishal go deep on what was real versus what was theatre on the show floor, why Air India's premium transformation still has miles to go, what it would...
Slot Archaeology & Airline Networking feat. Wilco Sweijen (Airline Partnerships Dir, AMS Schiphol)
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...
Slot Archaeology & Airline Networking feat. Wilco Sweijen (Airline Partnerships Dir, AMS Schiphol)
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...
The Future of Airline Loyalty feat. Mark Potter (Managing Director, Etihad Guest)
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 ma...
The Future of Airline Loyalty feat. Mark Potter (Managing Director, Etihad Guest)
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 tr...
State of the Aviation Industry (part 2) feat. Thomas Jaeger & Addison Schonland
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...
State of the Aviation Industry (part 2) feat. Thomas Jaeger & Addison Schonland
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...
State of the Aviation Industry (part 1) feat. Thomas Jaeger & Addison Schonland
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...
State of the Aviation Industry (part 1) feat. Thomas Jaeger & Addison Schonland
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...
Hub & Seek: How Lufthansa is Playing the Long Game feat. Felipe Bonifatti (VP Asia Pacific, ME & JV East, Lufthansa Group)
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 ta...
Hub & Seek: How Lufthansa is Playing the Long Game feat. Felipe Bonifatti (VP Asia Pacific, ME & JV East, Lufthansa Group)
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 Ar...
On Pieter Elbers and IndiGo feat. Kushan Mitra (The Pioneer) & Ajay Awtaney (Live From A Lounge)
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 M...
On Pieter Elbers and IndiGo feat. Kushan Mitra (The Pioneer) & Ajay Awtaney (Live From A Lounge)
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 Middle Seat’s Masterclass feat. Scott McCartney (Airlines Confidential Podcast)
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 playe...
The Middle Seat’s Masterclass feat. Scott McCartney (Airlines Confidential Podcast)
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...
Frenemies at the Gate: The Lufthansa - Air India Moment feat. Kevin Markette (Head of Sales-South Asia, Lufthansa Group)
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 "Goldilocks" challenge of choosing between seven 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 L...
