Podcast: The chaos in the Indian airline sector and suit by ATA to block US Ex-Im bank funding to Air India

India has the world’s fastest growing airline sector – yes faster than even the Gulf, much of whose traffic is again driven by India. Year on year growth is 17%.

Despite this, in its 100th year, the civil aviation sector in India is in near total financial chaos. Air India is a political plaything that has no business being a business, but is being kept alive just to cater to the whims and fancies of the political, bureaucratic and labour aristocracy. The two leading private airlines Jet and Kingfisher are hurting financially. After the on-going fiasco at Kingfisher, the auditors of Jet Airways have sounded the alarm bells. There is sole shining star is IndiGo, but even there some tarnish is appearing.

Has Indian aviation reached a tipping point, like the telecom sector did in India, more than a decade ago?

We also discussed the suit filed by the US airlines industry body, Air Transport Association of America (ATA) against the US Exim bank for providing loans to Air India for purchasing Boeing aircraft.

Do take the time to post your thoughts via a comment. We sincerely appreciate your efforts and thank you for your participation.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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