Lloyd Mathias

ONDC was meant to do for EComm what UPI did for payments - break monopolies & democratise commerce. But 4 years on ONDC remains a niche. • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. • 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 • 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. In my @livemint op-ed today, I argue ONDC can still get there if it: ✔ Focuses sharply on a few high-impact categories ✔ Standardises search, returns & service benchmarks ✔ Deeply enables small sellers ✔ Uses incentives to trigger network effects ✔ Communicates in consumer language The idea behind ONDC is right. Now the execution must catch up.

Here’s a statement just issued by the @RBI on the happenings at @HDFC_Bank

HDFC Bank Chairman Atanu Chakraborty resigns stating “happenings & practices within the bank are not in congruence with my personal values & ethics”. When the Chairman of India’s most trusted financial firm flags ethical concerns it’s a wake-up call. Accountability isn't optional

@bsvishy @HDFC_Bank @RBIsays @NFCG4India @InGovern @iodglobal I did🙋🏻‍♂️Sir. By all indications and its market standing it certainly was considered so.

@LloydMathias @HDFC_Bank @RBIsays @NFCG4India @InGovern @iodglobal Did you mention trusted, ethical and financial firm in the same sentence?

@ShekharGupta @JawedAshraf5 @thierry_mathou Congratulations @JawedAshraf5 Well deserved honour.

At the French embassy this evening, wonderful to join a warm gathering of friends to greet our brilliant diplomat ⁦@JawedAshraf5⁩ on conferment of high French honour… To his left, NSA Ajit Doval and to the right, French Ambassador ⁦@thierry_mathou⁩

Hard knock for Hard Rock Café fans in India.

@Sundeepkk @GmrAerocity Well. We’ve had Malibu Towne, Belvedere Park and Sunset Boulevard in Gurugram for decades now! 😉

@LloydMathias @GmrAerocity Knightsbridge Street and Manhattan Drive in the vicinity is a bit of a stretch!

Delhi’s Aerocity street names are quite something!🙄

Given the LPG shortage I guess the CBI used wood for grilling. There already is a lot at ‘steak’ with the TN election dates announced today. #SundayFunday

@GKSChandra @SensingSenses @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK Sure. But remember for any smart business it's always customer first, operational expediency later. Customer service & passenger convenience build loyalty. Step-ladders are time consuming, uncomfortable & UNSAFE. Not all travellers are able-bodied folks with light carry ons.

@LloydMathias @SensingSenses @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK Everything boils down to cost and bottomline. I am sure most in corporate sector know this.

At least 14 aerobridge parking bays empty in Bengaluru’s KIAL, yet @airindia ‘s AI 2401 BOM-BLR uses the step-ladder! @BLRAirport

@prempanicker @KTRBRS Lovely!

I was told about this. Startled, and touched that all those years later, something I wrote still lingered in memory. 🙏 @KTRBRS

Berges, I understand all the justifications & explanations. My basic point is about passenger convenience. Step-ladders are time consuming, uncomfortable & UNSAFE. Not all travellers are able-bodied folks with light carry ons. Full-service carriers ought to address this issue. For any good business it's customer first; operational expediency later. Surely you get this? BTW do see Air-India's response to my post. They seem to suggest it's @BLRAirport ‘s fault. And radio silence from Blore airport & AAAI/DGCA/MoCA.

@LloydMathias @adityakalra @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK @MoCA_GoI @AAI_Official @DGCAIndia Actually could be because the aircraft will take international passengers and/or the aircraft is parking at the slot. They use the aero bridges only if the aircraft is flying out again. Happens even internationally at other airports.

@adityakalra @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK Sure it is, Aditya. As is walking back to the terminal without the bus (even cheaper); or jumping off the aircraft (cheapest). Then what’s the point of a full-service career and the UDF paid to Airport operators? @RamMNK @MoCA_GoI @AAI_Official @DGCAIndia @airindia @BLRAirport

@LloydMathias @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK It’s cheaper, I guess

@LiveFromALounge Thank you for educating us stupid travellers on the economics of aviation. So aerobridge access is a “preference” not an “entitlement”even for a full-service carrier & passengers who have paid Airport Operators a User Development Fee UDF? What next? We pay for aerobridge access?

@LloydMathias I don’t see the problem here: jetbridge is a preference, but can’t be an entitlement. And yes, they cost more. But sometimes it might be the airport/ ATC decision as well.

Yes — at Bengaluru airport aerobridge stands cost extra, while remote stand parking is cheaper, so airlines sometimes choose ladder/bus boarding to reduce costs.If an airline has 50 flights per day, aerobridge usage alone could cost ₹1–1.5 lakh daily, so remote stands are cheaper. Parking Rules Aircraft usually get about 2 hours free parking at stands. @Avgeek @airindia

@ruchitgarg @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK Obviously, every service has a cost component, Ruchit. We get it. But a full-service airline denying legitimate customer convenience- without explanation-doesn't sound ok to me. And @airindia in this instance, seems to suggest it's @BLRAirport 's fault.👇@AAI_Official @DGCAIndia

@LloydMathias @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK It costs extra to airlines, when they use aerobridge services by airport

@SAWHNEY62 @BLRAirport @AAI_Official @DGCAIndia @MoCA_GoI @RamMNK @LiveFromALounge @jagritichandra @airindia @PMOIndia @jagograhakjago @senjam The original post.

@SAWHNEY62 In this instance Air-India’s response to my tweet implies it’s @BLRAirport ‘s fault! This clearly is a “passing the buck” game that passengers are at the receiving end of. With @AAI_Official @DGCAIndia @MoCA_GoI @RamMNK silent bystanders! @LiveFromALounge @jagritichandra

@anandvasu @ramkid Well said @anandvasu

You can say anything you want about Sunil Gavaskar but there is no better example of someone respecting the past in cricket, the players who paved the way and turning up for them. He does this consistently and with so much genuine feeling. This is another thing we may have lost with the march of time and the progress Indian cricket has made on other fronts.

@SensingSenses @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK Well said.

One might question the actual savings achieved through such cost‑cutting measures, as they often appear to prioritise short‑term gains over long‑term trust. It is concerning that some businesses adopt strategies which risk misleading their customers, largely because public tolerance allows these practices to persist, and in the absence of a clearly codified law of torts, accountability remains diffuse.

@adilnargolwala @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK Yes Adil. Have experienced it often with AI816 BOM-DEL 9PM. Apparently it’s being “prepared” for an international trip so can’t disembark at domestic gates. Time @airindia sorts these passenger unfriendly moves.

@LloydMathias @airindia @BLRAirport @MoCA_India @RamMNK They do this sometimes at Delhi too