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.

Image: Boeing 737-800 VT-JGH of the new Jet Airways Konnect landing at Bangalore

Jet Airways recently launched its low cost service called Jet Airways Konnect. A while back I managed to catch one of the Boeing 737-800s of the new Konnect service at Bangalore airport. VT-JGH slows down after landing on runway 27 in front of the iconic air traffic control tower of the Bengaluru International Airport. Just love the complex wing with …

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Qatar Airways advances launch of services to Amritsar and Goa

To capitalise on the peak traffic, Qatar Airways is advancing it’s commencement of scheduled flights to Amritsar on October 11 ahead of Diwali (Deepavali). Similarly, it will commence scheduled flights to the beach destination of Goa on October 25, to capitalise on the inbound winter holiday traffic. Goa is a popular retreat, particularly among European holidaymakers Both routes will be …

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First anniversary of Bangalore airport: BIAL CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler interview – Part 3

In the continuing series of interviews with Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on the first anniversary of Bengaluru International Airport, yesterday in part two, we focussed on the revenue streams. Today in part three we focus on the airlines and routes present and future. Part 3 – Airlines Q1. Which airlines is BIAL targeting and trying to …

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Indian Air Force Antonov AN-32 transport crashes in North East

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Antonov 32 (AN-32) has crashed in the north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh which borders China. A total of 12 people – two pilots, a navigator, three air crew and six army personnel, were on board the twin engined cargo aircraft. The AN-32 plane had flown from Jorhat in Assam to Mechuka advanced landing ground …

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Air France #AF447: Time to quell speculation as rudder is recovered

Brazil’s navy recovered a large part of F-GZCP’s vertical stabiliser better known as the rudder, yesterday. The New York Times reports, the part, bearing the trademark stripes and logo of Air France, bore no evident burn marks and had retained its triangular shape, save for a missing chunk where it appeared to have been torn from the body of the …

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First anniversary of Bangalore airport: BIAL CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler interview – Part 2

In the continuing series of interviews with Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on the first anniversary of Bengaluru International Airport, yesterday we focussed on the past. Today in part two we focus on the present and more specifically revenue streams. Part 2 – Revenue streams Q1. Can BIAL provide a rough break up of revenue streams. Passenger, …

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First anniversary of Bangalore airport: BIAL CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler interview – Part 1

Bengaluru International Airport was India’s first greenfield private airport conceived. In 1991, just as then Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh began the much heralded liberalisation of the Indian economy, the concept of a privately operated airport was born. Bangalore was still to emerge on the Indian map, forget the global stage. Air passenger traffic was not even one million passengers …

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Jet Airways and Air India may defer Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries

As the annual meeting of the airline body International Air Transport Association (IATA) commenced in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, the news for Boeing India chief Dinesh Keskar is not good. Both Jet Airways and Air India, his two major customers in India, are considering deferring the deliveries of their Boeing 787 Dreamliner orders. Jet Airway’s chairman and founder, Naresh Goyal, …

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Air France #AF447: Two bodies, luggage and debris recovered

Fox News is reporting that two bodies of passengers on-board the doomed Air France flight AF-447 from Rio to Paris have been recovered. The first bodies of passengers of the doomed Air France flight that plummeted into the sea have been found, Brazil’s air force said Saturday. The Brazilian military said search crews scanning the Atlantic Ocean located two male …

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Plane spotting images: Smokin’ touchdowns

I had gone spotting some time back and managed to find a good vantage point at the Bengaluru International Airport to get the touchdowns of a few aircraft in the early morning. Got the SpiceJet Boeing 737-900ER (one of the only four operating in India), a Jet Airways Boeing 737-700 fitted with the Aviation Partners winglets; something one does not …

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Air France #AF447: Theories abound as recovered debris is not from the jet

As Brazilian authorities indicate the recently recovered debris is not from Air France AF-447, all forms of theories are popping up. One theory that faulty sensors that may have given erroneous speed indications has prompted the airplane manufacturer Airbus SAS to issue warnings to operators of all A330 aircraft. More preposterous theories abound that Air France AF447 collided with another …

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Spotted: Air India’s latest Boeing 777-237(LR) VT-ALF C/N 36306

Flickr user Moonm recently captured Air India’s latest Boeing 777-200LR at the corporate hangers at Boeing. Click on image for a larger view. Photo courtesy and copyright Flickr user moonm The Boeing 777-237 model construction number 36305 is powered by GE GE90-110B1L engines and is registered VT-ALF. Part of an eight aircraft order, it will be the sixth LR to …

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Air France #AF447: Finding answers will be difficult

The search for the debris is widening. As per Brazil’s Defence Minister Nelson Jobim the debris discovered so far is spread over 230 kilometres (140 miles) located about 640 kilometres (400 miles) north-east of the Fernando de Noronha islands. This wide debris field suggests a mid-air break-up. A deep water submersible considered key to finding the Digital Flight Data Recorder …

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A poem for the victims of Air France AF447

An extract from the poem Footsteps in the Sand by Brazilian poet Ademar de Barros which was read at the end of the inter-religious prayer ceremony for the 228 who perished on-board Air France AF447 June 1, 2009. One night, I dreamed a dream, I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from …

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A birthday, loss of Air France 447, loss of a sister — what a day

The Chinese have a saying May you live in interesting times Yesterday, June 1, 2009 was certainly interesting to say the least. The day began mixed. My son celebrated his birthday, while my sister was battling for her life in hospital. By 3:30pm (10:00Z) reports started filtering in about Air France’s flight AF447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris being …

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Kingfisher Airlines joining oneworld’s Global Explorer round the world fare

From June 1, 2009, Kingfisher Airlines will participate in oneworld’s Global Explorer round the world fare, which offers flights on all members of the oneworld® alliance and some other selected airlines. KingGlobal Explorer will join a number of airlines with no other oneworld links – Aer Lingus, Air Pacific, Alaska Airlines, Horizon Airlines, and Gulf Air. This will be the …

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Major mishap averted at Mumbai airport — again!!! – Update 1

Mumbai airport is in the news again and not for any right reason. After a near fiasco with the presidential helicopter less than three months ago, a major disaster was averted at Mumbai airport on the same day that Mumbai airport has commenced 24 hour cross runway operations. An Air India Airbus A310-300, flight AI-348 from Mumbai to Delhi, India …

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Air France Airbus A330 flight AF447 Rio de Janeiro to Paris missing; 228 feared lost – Update 3

Follow Bangalore Aviation on Twitter. An Air France Airbus A330-200, registration F-GZCP performing flight AF447 which departed May 31, 2009, from Rio de Janeiro Galeão – Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport, Brazil (IATA: GIG ICAO: SBGL) to Paris Charles de Gaulle, France (IATA: CDG ICAO: LFPG) with 216 passengers and 12 crew, is missing and overdue at Paris for more …

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Spotted: IndiGo airline’s newest Airbus A320-232 MSN3943 F-WWDT VT-INZ

Courtesy fellow spotter a380spotter we have a picture of the newest Airbus A320-232 due to join the fleet of value carrier IndiGo Airlines MSN3943 currently test registered as F-WWDT is expected to be registered as VT-INZ when she joins the IndiGo fleet by the end of June; and will be the 21st A320 in the fleet. IndiGo will take a …

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ADT wins security system contract at Indira Gandhi International Airport Delhi

ADT Security has won the contract to provide the access control and video surveillance security systems to the new terminal 3 in Indira Gandhi International Airport, slated to open in March 2010. The US$9.3 million contract was offered by Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) who has been granted the exclusive rights to develop, manage and operate the international airport at …

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