Air India mighty maharaja of the skies. India’s oldest airline is well past its glory days. But it wasn’t always like this. Let’s look at the history and Timeline of the airline that brought India to the global map by acting as its brand ambassador.
1932
Air India also formerly Air-India was establish in 1932 by the legendary industrialist and philanthropist JRD. Tata who was also India’s first licensed pilot.
His fascination quickly turn into a plan to form India’s first commercial airline.
The first schedule service was inaugurate in 1932 flying mail on some routes for then-Imperial Airways.
Air India operations grew quickly with the airline adding more destinations across India for mail, and then beginning to carry passengers.
By the end of the first year the carrier had flown 10.7 tons of mail and 155 passengers using the de Havilland Puss Moth.
In 1938 Air India airline was rename as Tata Airlines and expands internationally for the first time.
The Air India added Colombo, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to its route map in addition to the dozen or so destinations in India.
During the Second World War Tata Airlines planes were all commandeered for military use.
JRD Tata offer to build de Havilland Mosquitos to support the war effort and eventually made gliders instead.
By 1942 he was looking to the post-war future of the airline and expanding into the west.
1947
After India’s independence the government took a 49% stake in the Tata Airlines which had been rename as Air India.
Air India made its maiden long-haul flight from Mumbai to London Heathrow in 1948 a long-awaited step for JRD Tata.
After five years later the government nationalized Air India and many other carriers and took it out of Tata’s control.
Despite initially being anger by the move JRD Tata return to lead the airline as its chairman soon after.
1960
In 1960 the introduction of the first Boeing 707-420 aircraft, Air India started using jets, and two years later, in June 1962, Boeing 707-420 aircraft became the world’s first all-jet airline.
Next few decades Air India became a household name and began to make its mark as one of the finest airlines in the world.
Air India may have been small compare with other global competitors, but it had the kind of service that other airlines talked about with admiration and envy.
The Air India’s exceptional service was on its trans-Atlantic flights, where it took pleasure in stealing passengers away from its European and American competitors.
Air India was always known for its interesting advertisement ideas. It is also known for launching taglines that immediately grabbed the attention of the people.
2018
In 2018 Indian government tried to privatize Air India by selling 76% of its stake in the national carrier but fail because no private-sector buyer express interest in the state-own airline.
2020
In 2020 Indian government approve a new proposal to divest 100% stake in Air India which will be follow by the Expression of Interest (EoI) document to be issue.
2021
Tata Sons won the bid for national carrier Air India as per Bloomberg reported.
Tata’s long history with the national carrier might well have another chapter if the deal goes through.
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