Boarding Now

Vinay Dube on Akasa Air’s Rise in India’s Duopoly

In this episode, Akasa Air’s Founder and CEO, Vinay Dube, joins us to explore the journey of India’s three-year-old airline in a duopoly of IndiGo and Air India. Dube expresses confidence in the airline’s partnership with Boeing amidst delays in aircraft deliveries that were down to a trickle last year and discusses plans for expansion in Southeast Asia. He also shares practical tips for flight bookings and reveals his mantra for remaining grounded amid aviation industry’s many challenges Boarding Now is a podcast where we look at key aviation developments through an India lens. We will also feature special interviews and cut through the jargon and hype to keep it real. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy every episode. Host: Jagriti Chandra Edited by Jude Francis Weston

Unpacking Pilot Fatigue and New Duty Hour Norms

A conversation with Captain Mohan Ranganathan, former instructor pilot at SpiceJet and an aviation safety expert, on the aviation safety watchdog’s new norms governing pilot rest and duty hours amidst concerns over mounting fatigue. We also discuss the factors that contribute to fatigue during flying and why pilots are pushing back on night flying. Boarding Now is a podcast where we look at key aviation developments through an India lens. We will also feature special interviews and cut through the jargon and hype to keep it real. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy every episode. Host: Jagriti Chandra Edited by Jude Francis Weston

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on foray into Europe

With IndiGo set to launch flights to Europe this summer, its CEO Pieter Elbers talks to The Hindu about the airline’s foray into long-haul international destinations, the XLR deliveries, the airline’s shift beyond the low-cost model, reasons for high airfares and how the airline is innovating to tackle customer anger and enhance the travel experience.