Jet Airways Business Class Seat Designed in Garage

Friday, 21st June 2013 at 07:30am

Not wanting to be spied on, Naresh Goyal thought of a novel idea to get rid of nosy people, most especially industrial spies, when he designed a prototype of a business class seat for his planes - did it in the confines of his home's garage.

Interesting, isn't it? That's what Giovanni Bisignani, former IATA CEO and Director General, has revealed in his book, 'Shaking the Skies', about the Jet Airways founder.

In his book, Bisignani revealed his personal relationship with the country's greatest leader, Indira Gandhi, who is also a world icon.

He has praised the airline founder highly and even described him as "a leader with brilliant ideas and a very colorful character."

The book is sort of an autobiography of the Jet Airways chief, who steered the airline into the country's most preferred airline under his leadership.

The author disclosed in his book that Goyal wanted his airline to have Asia's most elegant business class by tapping the skill of a famous Italian designer, which was unheard of during that time. To ensure his airline get the exclusive possession of the seat design, he had all the mock-ups done in his home's garage.

Bisignani also held senior positions in his past careers in his country, some of which were senior vice presidents of International Affairs of IRI, several Italian banks as well as Alitalia, which he later became its CEO.

His positions in these companies enabled him to meet prominent personalities around the world, including the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and eventually developed close ties with the leader. His close ties with Gandhi helped him to propose business deals in India and facilitated its successful approval from the Indian government with ease.

He claimed he always had tea moments with the leader in many a beautiful garden in her residence in India. Indira later met her untimely demise when she was assassinated by her close bodyguards in her gardens in 1984.

Bisignani made a lot of revelations in his book about the Indian leader and her family especially her two sons, Rajiv and Sanjay, who both met their death before their prime. The elder son, Rajiv, was also assassinated while in office, whereas the younger son, on a plane crash.

The Italian businessman-cum-author also claimed how he warned former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel against the merger between Air India and Indian Airlines without the full support of the government.

Giovanni Bisignani was Director General and Chief Executive Officer of IATA from 2002 to 2011, during which he implemented several changes in global aviation industry.

He also included in his book his meeting with several world icons such as Pope John Paul II, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, UN Secretary Gen. Ban Ki Moon, Neil Armstrong, etc.

By: Pete Lee.