New Delhi: Air India, India’s national carrier now going back into private hands, has been one of the most comprehensive flight service providers in India. Flying since 1932, the Mumbai-headquartered airline serves Southern and East Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the United States and Canada.
Air India, founded by the Tata Group, was known as Tata Airlines when it came into existence in 1932. It has seen changes in names several times since the private company was nationalized in 1953.
Here is a brief history of India’s national airline.
1932: The first scheduled service was inaugurated by JRD Tata. The carrier then operated flying mail and passengers between Karachi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bellary and Chennai. The first aircraft used by the company was the Haviland Puss Moth. It had a cruising speed of 100 mph and a range of 714 miles. Its wingspan was 36 feet and 9 inches, compared to the Boeing 747’s 195 feet and 8 inches.
1933-34: The Puss Moth was developed into the de Havilland Leopard Moth DH-85.
1935: Tata Airlines introduces de Havilland Fox Moth DH-83, a 4-seater biplane to its fleet
1937: The Waco YQC-6 was introduced as soon as the airline started the Bombay-Indore-Bhopal-Gwalior-Delhi service. It was again JRD Tata who made the inaugural flight on November 6, 1937.
1938: Tata Airlines got the Dragon Rapide DH-89 to join its fleet. It was the first airplane to have a radio installed.
1939: Tata Airlines’ routes were extended to Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, Colombo, Lahore and some intermediate points.
1946: After World War II Tata Airlines was converted into a public company and renamed as Air-India Limited.
1948: International services started between Bombay (Mumbai) and Cairo, Geneva and London and Air-India International Limited was formed.
1953: India nationalized all Indian airlines and created two corporations – one for domestic services and the other for international. The entity serving the domestic routes was called Indian Airlines Corporation, which merged Air-India Limited with six fewer lines. The international service provider was called Air-India International Corporation.
1962: Air-India was the abbreviation for Air-India International Corporation.
2001: The NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee made the first attempt to make a strategic sale of the airline. Air-India’s 40% equity was put in the block.
2005: Air-India dropped the hyphen from its name and became Air India. The move is aimed at gaining a competitive advantage in computerized reservation searches as ticket booking increasingly goes digital.
2007: Air India merged with its domestic arm Indian Airlines.
2018: The government once again tried to sell the national carrier, which by then had accumulated debts and other liabilities of over Rs 50,000 crore. However, this time around, the government decided to hold 24% equity in the airline. It didn’t get a single bid.
2020: Air India was back on the strategic sales table in January 2020. This time, the government said it would sell its 100% stake in the company. In October, it announced a December 14 deadline. At least two bids were received – one from Tata Sons and another from a group of employees of Air India and US-based financial investment firm Interups Inc. SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh was also in the race.
2021: In April, the Center asked eligible interested bidders, Tata Sons and SpiceJet, to submit final bids. Tata Sons struck the deal after a panel of ministers accepted a proposal from officials who had recommended the group’s bid on Ajay Singh, sources confirmed. An official announcement is expected soon.
*Source: Britannica.com, Airindia.in
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