With a worldwide network of passenger and cargo services, Air India continues to be India’s national

Airline. The history of the airline can be traced back to October 15, 1932. Air India was earlier known as
Tata Airlines. At the time of its inception, Tata Airlines consisted of one Puss Moth, one Leopard Moth,
one palm-thatched shed, one whole time pilot, one part-time engineer and two apprentice-mechanics.
Business tycoon J.R.D. Tata, the father of Civil Aviation in India and founder of Air India, took off from
Drigh Road Airport, Karachi, in a tiny, light single-engine de Havilland Puss Moth, on his flight to Mumbai
via Ahmadabad. On 29 July 1946, Tata Airlines was converted into a Public Company, under the name of
Air India.

On March 8, 1948, Air India International Limited was formed to start Air India’s international operations.
On June 8, 1948, Air India started its international services, with a weekly flight from Mumbai to London
via Cairo and Geneva with a Lockheed Constellation aircraft. In early 1950s, due to deteriorating financial
condition of various airlines, the Government decided to nationalize air transport. On August 1, 1953, two
autonomous corporations were created. Indian Airlines was formed with the merger of eight domestic
airlines to operate domestic services, while Air India International was established to operate the
overseas services. The word 'International' was dropped in 1962. With effect from March 1, 1994, the
airline has been functioning as Air India Limited.

Air India's worldwide network today covers 44 destinations by operating services with its own aircraft and
through code-shared flights. Important destinations covered by Air India are Bangkok, Hongkong, Jakarta,
Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Dar-es-Salam, Nairobi, Frankfurt, London, Paris,
Birmingham, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Riyadh, Kuwait, Los
Angeles, Chicago, Newark, New York, and Toronto. Air India’s fleet consists of 38 aircrafts. These include
Airbus A310-300, Airbus A330-200, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 777-200ER, Boeing 777-
200LR, Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787-8.