BENGALURU- April 8, 2024, marks a significant milestone for Satyaki Raghunath, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), as he completes six years at Bangalore International Airport (BLR).
He wrote on Linkedin, ‘The journey has been nothing short of remarkable, especially with the strategic partnership between the Tata Group, Air India Limited, and coming to fruition at such an opportune time.’
Bengaluru Airport COO Insights
Raveen P, the leader of the Aviation Business at BLR Airport, heads various verticals, including Airline Marketing, Cargo, Ground Handling, Fueling, Catering, and BME. Arun Chandra assists him as his deputy.
Together, they embarked on a journey six years ago with a clear vision for BLR Airport – to become the ‘New Gateway to India.’
This vision encompassed bringing major carriers to BLR Airport and facilitating seamless connectivity for passengers and cargo to key destinations across the globe.
Hub for International Flights
Since 2019, BLR Airport has successfully connected several international cities to Namma Bengaluru, including AMS, ADD, SFO, NRT, SYD, MUC, DPS, HKT, and LHR, through partnerships with leading airlines such as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Air India Limited, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Lufthansa, IndiGo, and recently Virgin Atlantic.
Regrettably, external challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian conflict have impacted plans with American Airlines (AA) and United Airlines (UA).
American Airlines earlier planned a non-stop flight connecting Seattle with Bengaluru. Subsequently, United aimed to connect two leading Startup cities in their respective countries, i.e., San Francisco-Bengaluru Flights.
However, despite these setbacks, BLR Airport has forged new cargo partnerships with global giants like Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) and Menzies Aviation and welcomed UPS.
Exemplary Leadership
COO shared that Raveen and Arun’s exemplary leadership amidst adversities has been instrumental in BLR Airport’s success. They’ve not only represented Bengaluru and Karnataka positively but have also demonstrated the potential of the BLR Market to airline partners.
Their strategic analyses, market insights, and persuasive abilities have garnered the trust of major carriers, solidifying BLR Airport’s position as a premier aviation hub.
While airport infrastructure development is crucial, convincing airlines to serve a market is an arduous task. Raveen, Arun, and the dedicated teams at BLR Airport have made this seemingly daunting task appear effortless, positioning BLR Airport and Bengaluru favorably for the future.
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