Air India, the national flag carrier of India, erstwhile Tata Airlines, was founded in the year 1932 by J.R.D. Tata. On 29 July 1946 after the transformation of Tata Airlines into the public sector, it derived its new name Air India.
It was in the year 1948 that Air India received permission to fly internationally. On the 8th of June of the same year the Air Indian aircraft, Lockheed Constellation L-749A named Malabar Princess flew for London, from Bombay via Cairo and Geneva. The next international flight of Air India was to Nairobi via Aden.
Air India International came into existence with the nationalization of the air transportation industry under the Air Corporations Act. Subsequently, in the year 1954 Air India International started its services to Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
In 1960 Air India International started its jet services and it first flew to New York via London. Boeing 707 was its first jet aircraft and was named “Nandadevi”. On the 8th of June 1960, Air India International was officially named Air India. Finally on the 11th of June Air India was declared to be the first airline with all jet planes. At present Air India owns 35 aircraft with the ever-smiling turbaned “Maharaja” as its mascot. They are:
- 19 Airbus A310
- 2 Boeing 747 -300 M(Combi)
- 8 Boeing 747 -400
- 1 Boeing 747 -400 (Combi)
- 1 Boeing 767-300
- 1 Boeing 777 -200
- 3 Boeing 777 -200 ER
Air India plans to add some more new aircraft by the year 2007. These are:
- 13 Boeing 737- 800
- 27 Boeing 787 – 8
- 15 Boeings= 777 – 300 ER
- 8 Boeing 777- 300 LR
Air India holds a big office at Nariman Point Mumbai. Air India Airlines has its main bases at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, and its hub at the Chennai International Airport. Air India travels to 95 destinations across the globe. Along with its fully owned subsidiary AirIndiaexpress, it connects 12 Indian destinations. Air India flies to:
Air India takes good care of its customer’s comfort. For a smooth and happy journey it provides to its passengers:
- Three classes of travel – First class, Executive class, and Economy class.
- Spacious and comfortable seating
- Frequent flyer program
- Luxury lounges
- Duty-free sale on board
- E-ticket facility
- In-flight refreshments and entertainment