Pink Floyd helped me deal with the worst: Vistara's Sanjiv Kapoor


When Spicejet was in a tough spot last year, the airline's then COO Sanjiv Kapoor often recalled a line from one of John Lennon's tracks, "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." A Lennon fan, Kapoor and his team steered the airline out of trouble. In the process, Kapoor and his employees developed a bond, which only a crisis can bring about. 

After further steadying Spicejet with two good quarters, Kapoor quit his job and joined the Indian airline industry's latest entrant, Vistara. Currently, he is on gardening leave, recharging his batteries before his new assignment. ETPanache caught up with the Delhi-based Kapoor when he was in Mumbai for a day. He flew to the city on Vistara. 

"They (cabin and ground staff) treated me like I was family," Kapoor says. "I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't think they would know I was on board. They really made me feel warm and welcome." He was to return to Delhi on Spicejet, where he's still treated as one of their own. "I am grateful to have not just my family at home but two airlines out there who are both my families. I find that very nice. I will enjoy it as much as I can," says Kapoor, who grew up in Kolkata. Kapoor recalls the rough phases and the role Pink Floyd played during that time. He is such a music buff that he knows the lyrics of almost all songs by the Beatles, Pink Floyd and Queen. Kapoor also talks about his equation with Air Asia India CEO Mittu Chandilya, with whom he has rattled sabres in the past. 


Favourite personalities 

Steve Jobs: "I admire his belief and confidence in challenging the status quo and innovating. He didn't believe in focus groups. He said that the public doesn't know what they haven't experienced." 

Richard Branson: "He is the Steve Jobs of the airlines industry. And a majority of his tweets are about taking care of people. That resonates with what I believe." 

John Lennon: "He's a hero for me. Again, because he thought differently." 

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