Air India

A lowdown on Air India, its evolution, growth and future plans.

Air India is the national flag carrier of India with a worldwide network of passenger and cargo services. The airline had its beginning as Tata Airlines, which was started in 1932 by J. R. D. Tata. Following the end of World War II, regular commercial service was restored in India and Tata Airlines became a public limited company on July 29, 1946 under the name Air India. After the Independence of India, 49 per cent of the airline was acquired by the Government of India in 1948, with an option to purchase an additional two per cent. In return, the airline was granted status to operate international services from India as the designated flag carrier under the name Air India International. On June 8 1948, a Lockheed Constellation L-749A named Malabar Princess and registered VT-CQP took off from Bombay bound for London via Cairo and Geneva. This marked the airline’s first long-haul international flight, soon followed by service in 1950 to Nairobi via Aden.

Air India over the years

On August 1 1953, the Government of India exercised its option to purchase a majority stake in the carrier and Air India International Limited was born as one of the fruits of the Air Corporations Act that nationalised the air transportation industry. At the same time all domestic services were transferred to Indian Airlines. In 1954, the airline took delivery of its first L-1049 Super Constellations and inaugurated services to Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Air India International entered the jet age in 1960 when its first Boeing 707, named Nandadevi and registered VT-DJJ, was delivered. Jet services to New York via London were inaugurated that same year in May 1960. On June 8, 1962 the airline’s name was officially truncated to Air India. On June 11, 1962 Air India became the world’s first all-jet airline.

In 1970, Air India moved its offices to downtown Bombay. The next year, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200 named Emperor Ashoka and registered VT-EBD. In 1986, Air India took delivery of the Airbus A310. The airline is the largest operator of this type in passenger service. In 1988, Air India also took delivery of two Boeing 747-300s in mixed passenger-cargo configuration. In 1993, Air India took delivery of the flagship of its fleet when the first Boeing 747-400 named Konark and registered VT-ESM made history by operating the first non-stop flight between New York and Delhi. In 1994 the airline was registered as Air India Ltd. In 1996, the airline inaugurated service to its second US gateway at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. In 1999, the airline opened its dedicated Terminal 2-C at the newly renamed Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai.