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Air India
An Air India Airbus A350-900
Founded	15 October 1932; 92 years ago (1932-10-15) (as Tata Airlines)
Commenced operations	29 July 1946; 79 years ago (1946-07-29)
Hubs	Delhi
Secondary hubs	Bengaluru Mumbai
Focus cities	Ahmedabad Chennai Hyderabad Kochi Kolkata Thiruvananthapuram
Frequent-flyer program	Maharaja Club
Alliance	Star Alliance
Subsidiaries	Air India Express
Fleet size	196 (excl. subsidiary)
Destinations	92
Parent company	Air India Limited
Headquarters	Gurugram, Haryana, India
Key people	Natarajan Chandrasekaran (Chairman) Campbell Wilson (CEO & MD)
Revenue	₹38,812 crore (US$6.6 billion) (FY 2024)
Profit	▼₹-4,444 crore (US$−760 million) (FY 2024)

Air India is a major airline from India. It is known as the country's flag carrier, meaning it represents India in the skies. Its main base is at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. It also has other important bases in Bengaluru and Mumbai.

The airline's main office is in Gurugram, Haryana, India. Air India is owned by Air India Limited. This company is mostly owned by the Tata Group and partly by Singapore Airlines. As of November 2024, Air India flies to 102 places around the world. It uses different types of Airbus and Boeing planes. It is the second-largest airline in India for passengers carried. Air India joined the Star Alliance group of airlines on July 11, 2014.

Air India was started in 1932 by J. R. D. Tata and was first called Tata Airlines. Mr. Tata himself flew the first flight, carrying mail from Karachi to Mumbai. After World War II, the Indian government took over the airline in 1953. It was then renamed Air India. In 1960, it became the first airline in Asia to use a jet aircraft, a Boeing 707. After facing financial challenges, the airline was sold back to the Tata Group in 2022. This happened after 69 years of government ownership.

Air India also flies to places in India and Asia through its smaller airline, Air India Express. The airline uses both smaller planes for shorter flights and larger planes for long international trips. Air India's special symbol is the Maharajah, which means "high king." In 2023, the airline got a new logo.

History of Air India

Starting Out (1932–1945)

Tata Air Service logo

Air India began with Tata Sons, a company started by J. R. D. Tata. He was a famous Indian pilot and businessman. In 1932, Tata won a deal to carry mail for Imperial Airways. So, Tata Sons created an aviation part with two small planes called de Havilland Puss Moths.

On October 15, 1932, Tata flew a Puss Moth carrying mail from Karachi to Mumbai. Another pilot, Nevill Vintcent, continued the flight to Chennai. The airline's first service was a weekly mail flight between Karachi and Chennai. In its first year, the airline flew a lot and made a profit. Later, it added flights from Mumbai to Trivandrum. In 1938, the airline was renamed Tata Air Services and then Tata Airlines. During World War II, the airline helped the Royal Air Force. It moved troops, supplies, and helped rescue people.

After Independence (1946–2000)

Air India became the first Asian airline to use a jet plane, the Boeing 707–420 Gauri Shankar

An Air India Boeing 747-200B

After India became independent in 1947, the Indian government bought 49% of Tata Airlines in 1948. On June 8, 1948, an Air India plane flew from Mumbai to London Heathrow. This was the airline's first international flight. In 1953, the government bought most of the airline from Tata Sons. The company was renamed Air India International Limited. Domestic flights were moved to another airline called Indian Airlines.

From 1948 to 1950, Air India started flights to Africa and major European cities. On February 21, 1960, Air India International got its first Boeing 707 jet. This made it the first Asian airline to use a jet aircraft. The airline started flights to New York in May 1960. On June 8, 1962, the airline's name became simply Air India. It became the world's first airline to use only jet planes.

In 1971, Air India received its first Boeing 747-200B. It introduced a new look called Palace in the Sky. In 1986, Air India got its first Airbus A310. In 1993, a Boeing 747-400 named Konark joined the fleet. This plane flew the first non-stop flight between New York and Delhi.

Challenges and Changes (2000–2022)

An Air India Airbus A310-300

Air India sold and leased back its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners to help with debt.

Air India joined the Star Alliance in 2014. This is an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner with the Star Alliance design.

Around 2000, there were attempts to sell Air India back to private owners. In 2004, Air India started a low-cost airline called Air-India Express. It connected Indian cities with the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In 2007, Air India and Indian Airlines merged to form Air India Limited.

After the merger, the airline faced financial difficulties. In 2011, Air India had a lot of debt. A report said that buying many new planes and the merger caused these problems. In 2014, Air India became the 27th member of Star Alliance. This is a big group of airlines that work together.

In May 2021, Air India reported a data breach. Personal details of about 4.5 million customers were affected. Air India told passengers to change their passwords.

Returning to Private Ownership (2022–Present)

On June 28, 2017, the Government of India decided to sell Air India. They tried to sell a part of it in 2018, but no companies were interested. So, in 2020, the government decided to sell the entire airline. They also reduced the airline's debt to make it more attractive.

In September 2021, the Tata Group and another company submitted bids to buy Air India. On October 8, 2021, Air India was sold to the Tata Group for a large sum of money. On January 27, 2022, the airline was officially handed over to the Tata Group.

After taking over, the Tata Group started to combine its other airlines, Vistara and AirAsia India, under Air India. In November 2022, Air India bought AirAsia's share in AirAsia India. It was renamed AIX Connect and plans were made to merge it with Air India Express. On November 29, 2022, Air India announced it would merge with Vistara by March 2024. This merger was completed on November 12, 2024. The Vistara brand will no longer be used, and all flights will be under the Air India name.

On September 15, 2022, the Tata Group announced a five-year plan called "Vihaan." This plan aims to improve and change Air India step by step. As part of this plan, Air India added flights to more international places. On February 14, 2023, Air India ordered 470 new planes from Airbus and Boeing. This was the largest aircraft order in the world at that time. On August 10, 2023, the airline announced a new look and logo. On January 1, 2024, Air India started flying its first Airbus A350 plane on domestic routes. It will expand to international flights later.

As of July 2024, Air India is improving its cargo services. It plans to create a separate company for cargo operations. In September 2024, Air India announced a $400 million plan to update 67 of its older planes. This will start with 27 Airbus A320neo planes.

Air India's Business and Look

Headquarters

The Air India Building in Mumbai was Air India's headquarters until 2013.

The Maharajah, Air India's mascot.

Air India logo between 2007–2023.

Artworks at an Air India office in Budapest in 1970.

Air India Limited's main office is in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. It moved its headquarters from the Air India Building in Mumbai to Delhi in 2013. In 2023, Air India moved its main office to Gurgaon in the National Capital Region.

Subsidiaries (Other Airlines)

Current

Airbus A310, part of the now closed Air India Cargo.

Air India Express started flying on April 29, 2005. It flies from South India to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In November 2022, Air India bought AirAsia's share in AirAsia India. It was renamed AIX Connect. Plans were announced to merge it with Air India Express. This merger was completed on October 1, 2024.

Past Subsidiaries

Air India Cargo was set up in 1954. It was the first Asian airline to operate cargo planes. Air India Cargo stopped using its own cargo planes in early 2012.

Alliance Air was another airline that used to be part of Indian Airlines. It was renamed Air India Regional after Air India and Indian Airlines merged. It became Alliance Air again in 2017. It stopped being a part of Air India in April 2022.

Mascot

Air India's mascot is the Maharajah. This mascot was created in 1946 by Bobby Kooka and Umesh Rao. Kooka said the Maharajah "may look like royalty, but he isn't royal." The Maharajah was first used for the airline's memo-pads. In 2015, the Maharajah got a new, younger look. In 2023, the Maharajah was updated again. Now, the mascot is mainly used in special places like premium lounges and on crockery.

Logo and Colors

Air India's planes are usually white with red designs. The airline's name is written in red. The design around the windows looks like palace carvings. This was part of their slogan, Your Palace in the Sky.

The first logo of Air India was a centaur. This was a special drawing of Sagittarius shooting an arrow into a circle. The circle looked like the wheel of Konark. This logo was used from 1948 until 2007. On May 22, 2007, Air India and Indian Airlines showed their new logo. It was a Flying Swan with the wheel of Konark inside it.

After the Tata Group bought the airline, Air India showed its brand new logo and colors on August 10, 2023. The new design uses deep red, purple, and gold colors. It has a chakra pattern. The new logo is inspired by the airline's Jharokha window pattern. In December 2023, the airline showed new uniforms for its crew. The first plane with the new look was an Airbus A350-900.

Art Collection

Since 1956, Air India has collected Indian art. This collection includes works by important Indian artists, sculptures, and rare textiles. These artworks were often displayed in Air India offices around the world. In 1967, the company even asked Salvador Dalí to create ashtrays. As payment, they gave him an elephant calf! In January 2023, the art collection was moved to the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai. It was put on display in an exhibition called Maharaja's Treasure.

Where Air India Flies

As of April 2024, Air India flies to 84 places. This includes 44 places in India and 40 international places in 37 countries. Its main hub is at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. It also has important hubs at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. Air India operates some of the world's longest non-stop flights.

Airline Groups

Air India became the 27th member of Star Alliance on July 11, 2014. This means it works with many other airlines around the world.

Partner Airlines

Air India has agreements to share flights with many other airlines. This means you can book a flight with Air India, but part of your journey might be on a partner airline's plane.

Air India also has other agreements with:

Alaska Airlines
Bangkok Airways

Air India's Planes

Air India Airbus A320neo

Air India Airbus A350-900

Air India Boeing 777-200LR

Air India Boeing 777-300ER

Air India Boeing 787-8

As of June 2025, Air India has 190 planes. These include both smaller and larger aircraft. The fleet has planes like the Airbus A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, A350. It also has Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 planes.

Plane Information

Air India started with a De Havilland Puss Moth in 1932. On February 21, 1960, it got its first Boeing 707. This made it the first Asian airline to use a jet plane. In 1971, the airline received its first Boeing 747. In 1986, Air India got its first Airbus A310. In 1993, a Boeing 747-400 joined the fleet.

After the merger in 2007, Air India added Airbus A321 planes for short international flights. It also leased Airbus A330s for medium to long international routes. The airline received its first Boeing 777-200LR in 2007. Its first Boeing 787 dreamliner arrived in 2012.

Air India One is the special name for any Air India plane carrying the prime minister, president, or vice-president of India. These flights use special Boeing 777-300ER planes owned by the Indian Air Force.

New Plane Orders

Air India's first A350 next to a Boeing 777X that the airline ordered in 2023.

On January 11, 2006, Air India ordered 68 jets. These included different types of Boeing 777, Boeing 737, and Boeing 787 planes.

On February 14, 2023, Air India announced a huge order for 470 new planes from Airbus and Boeing. This order included many A320neo family planes, A350s, 737 MAXs, 787-9s, and 777-9 aircraft. This was a record-breaking order for the airline industry.

On December 10, 2024, Air India confirmed an additional order for 100 more Airbus planes. These included 90 A320neo family aircraft and 10 A350 aircraft.

New Airbus A320 safety instruction booklet

Air India Services

Business Class seats on a Boeing 777

Air India economy class in-flight meal

Inside the Plane

Air India's larger planes, like the Boeing 777, have different sections for passengers. These include first class, business class, and economy class. After the airline became private, it started using some former Delta 777-200LRs. These planes introduced a "Premium Economy" section.

Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliners usually have two sections: business class and economy class. In January 2024, the airline started using its first Airbus A350 on some domestic flights.

Smaller planes, like the A320ceo fleet, mostly have business and economy class. Some newer planes, like the A320/321neo, only have economy class.

In November 2024, Air India and Vistara merged. Now, former Vistara planes fly under the Air India name. This means Air India customers can also experience Vistara's cabin designs.

In-flight Entertainment

On Air India's larger planes, you can watch movies and shows on screens built into the seats. The types of entertainment systems vary by plane. The airline plans to update these systems on older planes. Air India does not offer seatback entertainment on its smaller planes, except for the A321LR. On other smaller planes, you can stream entertainment to your own device. Namaste.ai is the current magazine you can read on Air India flights.

Wi-Fi on Board

On September 4, 2024, Air India announced it would offer Wi-Fi on its planes. By November 2024, free Wi-Fi was available on its Airbus A350, A321neo, and Boeing 787-9 planes. Other planes will get Wi-Fi after they are updated. Air India is the first airline in India to offer this free service within the country.

Frequent Flyer Program

Flying Returns was Air India's program for frequent flyers. It was India's first such program. Members could earn points and use them for future flights. After Air India and Vistara merged, the Flying Returns and Club Vistara programs were combined. The new program is called Maharaja Club.

Special Missions

As India's flag carrier, Air India often helps evacuate people during emergencies. The airline holds a Guinness Book of World Records record. It evacuated over 111,000 people from Amman to Mumbai in 1990. This happened during the Persian Gulf War. The event was later shown in the film Airlift.

Air India also helped evacuate Indians during the Libyan civil war in 2011. In 2015, it was part of Operation Raahat during the Yemeni civil war. In August 2021, Air India evacuated 669 people from Afghanistan during Operation Devi Shakti. In February 2022, it helped evacuate Indian citizens from Russia and Ukraine during Operation Ganga. In October 2023, the airline evacuated people from Israel during Operation Ajay.

Awards and Recognitions

Air India has received many awards over the years, including:

Preferred International Airline from Awaz Consumer Awards (2006)
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative by Galileo Express Travel World
Best Short-Haul International Airline by Galileo Express Travel World (2008)
Corporate Excellence Award by Amity University (2006)
Trusted Brand by Reader's Digest (2006)
Dun and Bradstreet Award (D&B) for top revenue among Indian airlines (2006)
Best South Asian Airline (2006)
Cargo Airline of the Year
Montreal Protocol Public Awareness Award by the United Nations for environmental protection
India's most trusted airline by The Brand Trust Report 2015.

Air India's ground services were the first to get ISO 9002 certification in 2001.

Accidents and Incidents

As of June 2025, Air India has been involved in eleven fatal crashes and one ground fatality. Two of these were caused by acts of terrorism.

Fatal Incidents

On December 27, 1947, a Douglas C-48C plane crashed near Korangi Creek due to instrument failure. All 23 people on board died. This was the airline's first fatal accident.
On November 3, 1950, Air India Flight 245, a Lockheed L-749 Constellation, crashed on Mont Blanc in France. All 48 people on board died.
On December 13, 1950, a Douglas C-47B crashed near Kotagiri due to a navigation error. All 21 people on board died.
On September 15, 1951, a Douglas C-47A crashed during takeoff from HAL Bangalore Airport. One crew member died, but all 23 passengers survived.
On May 9, 1953, a Douglas C-47A crashed shortly after takeoff from Palam Airport due to pilot error. All 18 people on board died.
On April 11, 1955, Air India Flight 300, a Lockheed L-749A Constellation, crashed after a bomb exploded mid-air. 16 people died.

The Air India Memorial in Toronto, Canada, for victims of Air India Flight 182

On January 24, 1966, Air India Flight 101, a Boeing 707-420, crashed on Mont Blanc, France. All 117 people on board died. This included Indian scientist Homi J. Bhabha. The crash was due to a navigation mistake by the pilots.
On January 1, 1978, Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747-237B, crashed into the Arabian Sea after takeoff from Mumbai. The pilot became disoriented due to instrument failure. All 213 people on board died.
On June 21, 1982, Air India Flight 403, a Boeing 707-420C, crashed while landing at Mumbai during a rainstorm. 17 people died. The crash was due to pilot error.
On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747-237B, was destroyed mid-air by a bomb. The plane exploded off the coast of Cork, Ireland. All 329 people on board died. This was the first mid-air bombing to bring down a Boeing 747.
On December 17, 2015, an Air India technician died in an accident at Mumbai airport. He was pulled into an engine during pushback.
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport. The crash was caused by fuel control switches moving to the "cutoff" position. All but one of the 242 people on board died, along with 19 people on the ground. This was the first fatal crash of a 787.

Non-Fatal Incidents

On July 19, 1959, a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation crashed while approaching Mumbai airport in bad weather. No one died, but the plane was badly damaged.
On January 23, 1971, an Air India Boeing 707-437 went off the runway during a training flight in Mumbai. No one was hurt, but the plane was damaged beyond repair.
On December 25, 1974, Air India Flight 105, a Boeing 747-237B, was hijacked by a passenger. The crew managed to stop the hijacker.
On August 29, 1978, Air India Flight 123, a Boeing 747-237B, stopped its takeoff due to an engine failure. The plane went off the runway and was damaged.
On January 28, 1983, Air India Flight 306, a Boeing 747-200B, collided with another plane after landing in Delhi. The plane was repaired.
On June 2, 1984, Air India Flight 315, a Boeing 747-200B, had an engine fire five minutes after takeoff. The plane landed safely.
On May 7, 1990, Air India Flight 132, a Boeing 747-200B, caught fire upon landing in Delhi. No one died, but the plane was too damaged to be used again.
On June 17, 1996, an Air India Boeing 747-400 was hit by a service vehicle at London Heathrow. The plane had minor damage and was repaired.
On January 20, 1999, Air India Flight 121, a Boeing 747-400, had a landing gear fire during its second landing attempt in Frankfurt. The plane was repaired.
On July 30, 2005, Air India Flight 127, a Boeing 747-400, skidded while landing in Mumbai on a wet runway. The plane was damaged but repaired.
On December 19, 2005, Air India Flight 136, a Boeing 747-400M, had a tire blowout after takeoff from Los Angeles. The plane returned safely.
On May 16, 2008, a Boeing 777-200 collapsed at Mumbai airport before passengers boarded. No one was hurt, but the plane was seriously damaged.
On September 21, 2008, Air India Flight 307, a Boeing 747-300M, had an engine problem and landed safely after declaring an emergency.
On September 4, 2009, Air India Flight 829, a Boeing 747-400, had an engine fire during takeoff in Mumbai. 21 people were injured during evacuation, and the plane was a total loss.
On December 17, 2009, Air India One, a Boeing 747-400 carrying the Prime Minister, was hit by a food delivery cart. The Prime Minister took a different plane.
On May 28, 2012, Air India Flight 112, a Boeing 777-200LR, was damaged on landing in Mumbai. The plane was repaired.
On January 5, 2014, Air India Flight 890, an Airbus A320, had a rear tire burst during landing in Jaipur. No one was hurt, but the plane was badly damaged.
On January 30, 2014, Air India Flight 116, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, had a near-miss with another plane during takeoff in Mumbai. This was due to an air traffic control error.
On February 2, 2014, Air India Flight 191, a Boeing 777-300ER, blew three tires after landing in Mumbai. No one was hurt.
On February 23, 2016, Air India Flight 191, a Boeing 777-300ER, hit a light pole at Mumbai airport while taxiing. This was due to an incorrect taxiway instruction.
On November 10, 2016, two Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners nearly collided mid-air near Delhi. This was due to conflicting instructions.
On September 11, 2018, Air India Flight 101, a Boeing 777-300ER, had multiple instrument failures and low fuel. It landed safely after diverting.
On January 29, 2019, Air India Flight 541, an Airbus A321-200, was damaged during takeoff due to runway material. The plane landed safely.
On June 14, 2025, Air India Flight 187, a Boeing 777-300ER, dropped suddenly due to turbulence. The pilots regained control, and the flight continued.