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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 make...

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...

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 Transit...

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 "BluChi...

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 Fran...

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 bu...

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...

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 g...

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 emergen...

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 a...

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...

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...

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 Sh...

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 Ciri...

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...

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-m...

🎙️ 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 r...

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 pl...

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 (President and 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 Anan...

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 an...

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 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠

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 develo...

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 pass...