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.

Scamster makes 389% profit margin selling official travel tickets to Members of Parliament

by Devesh Agarwal A ticket bought for Rs. 17,270 was sold to the Rajya Sabha secretariat for Rs. 67,270, a 389% mark-up!! We regularly hear either the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Ajit Singh, or the Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr. Mishra, calling for airlines to curb their fares and not indulge in price gouging. One has to wonder …

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Videos: Emirates promotes its multi-lingual crew with colloquial idioms videos

by Devesh Agarwal “You are the cat’s whiskers” is an English idiom meaning “you are perfect” or “you are someone special”. These are just some of the 29 colloquial idioms Dubai-based Emirates airline is advertising to showcase its global network and multi-lingual and multi-ethnic crew. Watch the videos below, and remember, if you want to romance an Italian Madonna, tell …

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Video: IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh talks about why some airlines fail and some succeed

by Devesh Agarwal Aditya Ghosh, President and Executive Director of Indigo Airlines says “Airlines fail because ego comes in the way of wisdom,” (a reference to the flamboyant Dr. Vijay Mallya). “As any business matures, not just the airline industry, it tends to move away from the basics. We tend to forget what the customer really needs, versus what the …

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American Airlines and US Airways to merge in $11 billion deal

American Airlines and US Airways officially announced their expected merger yesterday. Press release is below. American Airlines, US Airways combined route map  AMERICAN AIRLINES AND US AIRWAYS TO CREATE A PREMIER GLOBAL CARRIER —THE NEW AMERICAN AIRLINES Customers to Benefit from an Expanded Global Network and Investment in New Aircraft, Technology, Products, and Services Combined Company to Enhance oneworld® Alliance, …

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The best wines onboard your flight. 2012 Cellars in the Sky awardees.

Once again it is that time of the year to combine two passions, flying and wine. The annual Business Traveller ‘Cellars in the Sky’ awards were presented for the year 2012. The awards have been running since 1985, recognising the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide. Over 75 carriers were contacted in the summer of 2012, …

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Malaysia Airlines woos passengers with higher baggage allowance lower excess baggage charges

In keeping with its Business Plan strategy of ‘Winning Back Customers’, effective today, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is offering passengers an additional 10 kilograms free check-in baggage allowance and reduced excess baggage charges for travel in all classes. The new limits of 30, 40, and 50 kgs in Economy, Business, and First class will apply to all MAS flights using the …

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Dubai airport’s dedicated Emirates A380 Concouse A now fully operational

The special concourse dedicated for Emirates’ Airbus A380 superjumbos at Dubai airports is now fully functional. Concourse A at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport, is the world’s first purpose-built facility for A380 the aircraft at Dubai International. It features 20 A380 capable contact gates, and 29,000 square metres of Emirates’ First and Business class lounges. The concourse has 11 floors …

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“Start from scratch”, Japan Airlines’ Chairman’s advice for Air India

“Very important for Air India to start from scratch, completely change the way you think” is the advice offered for India’s national carrier by Masaru Onishi, Chairman of Japan Airlines (JAL). Mr. Onishi who spoke to Bangalore Aviation on January 31 on the sidelines of the oneworld entry ceremony of Malaysia Airlines. Mr. Onishi knows the subject of revival; he …

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Japan Airlines wants to start Tokyo Bangalore service, but not in the near future.

Japan Airlines Chairman Masaru Onishi

Japan Airlines (JAL) wants to start a Bangalore Tokyo service, but does not have any plans to do so in the near future, Masaru Onishi, Chairman of the airline, told Bangalore Aviation on the sidelines of the Oneworld event to mark the entry of Malaysia Airlines in to the alliance. Onishi went on to say, with the growing investment of …

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United States NTSB identifies origin of Japan Airlines’ Boeing 787 battery fire – Update 1

by Devesh Agarwal Updated Feb 8, 2013, 0100 GMT, 0630 IST At a news conference today, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman identified the origin of the Jan. 7 battery fire that occurred on a Japan Airlines 787 parked at Boston Logan Airport, and said that a focus of the investigation will be on the design and certification requirements of the …

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Photo Essay: Aero India 2013 – Inauguration Day images

The ninth edition of Aero India opened late and missing a few performers, notably the Russian Knights air display team, which have still not reached the show by the end of the second day. A photo essay on some of the performers on the first day. A Dassault Rafale B takes off during the inaugural ceremony at Aero India 2013. …

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Aero India 2013 show and site venue map

Below is a detailed map of the Aero India 2013 show detailing the various entrances, show layout, venue, the different parking areas, viewing areas etc. Please click on the image for a high resolution view. Once the image window opens, you can also right-click and download the image.

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News Digest – Press Releases – 1st Half February 2013

Below is a listing of press releases received February 1 onwards, till date. We will be appending more press releases at the end of this article regularly as and when new releases are received. CATHAY PACIFIC INTRODUCES WORLD’S BEST BUSINESS CLASS AND NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY CABINS ON HYDERABAD-HONG KONG FLIGHTS Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that passengers can enjoy a …

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IndiGo to increase Bangalore presence this month. Commences direct Guwahati flight.

As per a report in the Airline Route website, India’s largest domestic carrier is undertaking an expansion of its domestic network in the next one month. Bangalore will see increased services to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Bangalore will also see a new service direct to Guwahati and on to Agartala. eff 06FEB13Ahmedabad – Bangalore Service increases from 1 to 2 …

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Japan Airlines faces much smaller impact of Boeing 787 grounding

by Devesh Agarwal The impact of the month old grounding of their Boeing 787 Dreamliners on Japan Airlines (JAL) appears to much smaller when compared to fellow Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA). “We operated only six Dreamliners out of a fleet of 200 aircraft, so the total impact of the Dreamliner grounding on us is very small” JAL CEO …

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Photo Essay: Malaysia Airlines joins oneworld, unveils special livery aircraft. oneworld double mileage offer.

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 9M-MTE in special oneworld livery. See another photo here. This aircraft performed the first flight of the airline as a member of oneworld in the early hours of Feb 1 from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne.

by Devesh Agarwal, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines officially joined the oneworld alliance of airlines, as its 12th member, at 12:01am Malaysia Time (+8 GMT), earlier today. A day earlier on January 31, the airline had a series of events to celebrate its joining the alliance. Bangalore Aviation was present at the occasion, and brings you this photo …

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Exclusive photos: Malaysia Airlines joins oneworld alliance. Airbus A330 in special oneworld livery

National carrier Malaysia Airlines joins the oneworld alliance from tomorrow. Bangalore Aviation is in Kuala Lumpur to cover the event. Below are some exclusive photos of Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 9M-MTE in the special oneworld livery. The airline will also paint one its Boeing 737-800’s and one Airbus A380 superjumbo in the oneworld livery at a later date. Till then …

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GoAir takes delivery of its first Airbus A320 fitted with Sharklets

Just a day after, IndiGo took delivery of its first Airbus A320 equipped with Sharklets, Wadia Group owned GoAir, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320, registration VT-GOL. VT-GOL is the 14th aircraft delivered from a 20 A320 classic engine option (A320ceo) order placed in 2006. Just like IndiGo, all subsequent A320 deliveries to GoAir will be equipped …

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IndiGo becomes first Indian airline to operate A320 with Sharklets. First globally with IAE V2500 engines.

As reported by Bangalore Aviation last month, India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, has taken delivery of its first Sharklet fitted A320 aircraft, registration VT-IFH, and thus becomes the first Indian carrier, and third globally to operate this new version of the A320 aircraft. IndiGo is the first carrier globally to operate a Sharklet fitted A320 powered by the IAE V2500 …

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US NTSB investigation updates on Japan Airlines Boeing 787 fire at Boston

The National Transportation Safety Board released the fourth update on its on-going investigation into the January 7th fire aboard a Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787, registration JA829J, at Logan International Airport in Boston, USA. The fire occurred after the airplane had landed and no passengers or crew were on-board. The burnt APU battery unit The agency has still not found …

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