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Air India



 
 
Air India Limited is the national flag carrier
Flag carrier

A flag carrier refers to a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that is locally registered in a given country. They may be state-run, state-owned or state-designated companies or organisations with preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government....
 airline
Airline

File:Fedex-md11-N525FE-051109-21-16.jpgFile:Ryanair.b737-800.aftertakeoff.arp.jpgAn airline provides civil aviation for passengers or freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license....
 of India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
, flying a worldwide network of passenger and cargo services. Air India is state-owned, and administered as part of the National Aviation Company of India Limited
National Aviation Company of India Limited

The National Aviation Company of India Limited was established in 2007 and is owned by the Government of India and headquartered in Mumbai. The Company was created to facilitate the merger of the two main state-owned airlines in India: Air India, with its subsidiary Air India Express and Indian Airlines, together with its subsidiary Alliance...
 - which was created in 2007 to facilitate Air India's merger with Indian Airlines. The main bases of operation of the airline are Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is an airport located in Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, it is the busiest airport in India in terms of number of daily flights and the second-busiest in India in terms of passenger volume....
.

Air India is the 16th largest airline in Asia, serving 28 destinations worldwide, and, with its affiliated carriers, serves over 100 cities.






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Air India Limited is the national flag carrier
Flag carrier

A flag carrier refers to a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that is locally registered in a given country. They may be state-run, state-owned or state-designated companies or organisations with preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government....
 airline
Airline

File:Fedex-md11-N525FE-051109-21-16.jpgFile:Ryanair.b737-800.aftertakeoff.arp.jpgAn airline provides civil aviation for passengers or freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license....
 of India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
, flying a worldwide network of passenger and cargo services. Air India is state-owned, and administered as part of the National Aviation Company of India Limited
National Aviation Company of India Limited

The National Aviation Company of India Limited was established in 2007 and is owned by the Government of India and headquartered in Mumbai. The Company was created to facilitate the merger of the two main state-owned airlines in India: Air India, with its subsidiary Air India Express and Indian Airlines, together with its subsidiary Alliance...
 - which was created in 2007 to facilitate Air India's merger with Indian Airlines. The main bases of operation of the airline are Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is an airport located in Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, it is the busiest airport in India in terms of number of daily flights and the second-busiest in India in terms of passenger volume....
.

Air India is the 16th largest airline in Asia, serving 28 destinations worldwide, and, with its affiliated carriers, serves over 100 cities. Air India has codeshare agreements with twelve other international airlines. It is also expected to join Star Alliance
Star Alliance

Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance. Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines....
 on the 29th of March 2009. After dominating Indian skies for years, Air India is now the second largest airline in India in terms of passengers carried, after Jet Airways
Jet Airways

Jet Airways is an airline based in Mumbai, India. It is the country's largest international airline before Air India and the largest domestic airline, along with Jetlite....
, and closely followed by Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines is an airline based in Bangalore, India. It operates 218 flights a day and has a network of 38 destinations, with regional and long-haul international services....
. In domestic market share, it is the third largest behind Jet Airways (including subsidiary Jet Lite) and Kingfisher Airlines (including subsidiary Kingfisher Red).

History

in 1976]] Air India was founded by J. R. D. Tata
J. R. D. Tata

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was a pioneer aviator and important businessman of India. He was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna in 1992 ....
 in 1932 as Tata Airlines
Tata Airlines

Tata Airlines, a division of Tata Sons Ltd. was founded by J. R. D. Tata in 1932 as Tata Sons. It was started as a mail service over the route Karachi to Bombay and on south to Madras....
, a division of Tata Sons Ltd. (now Tata Group
Tata Group

The Tata Group is a Multinational corporation Conglomerate based in Mumbai, India. In terms of market capitalization and revenues, Tata Group is the largest private corporate group in India and has been recognized as one of the most respected companies in the world over the years....
). On 15 October 1932, J. R. D. Tata flew a single-engined De Havilland Puss Moth
De Havilland Puss Moth

The de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth is a three seater high-wing monoplane aeroplane designed and built by the De Havilland between 1929 and 1933. It flew at a speed approaching 200 km/h , making it one of the highest-performance private aircraft of its era....
 carrying air mail (postal mail of Imperial Airways
Imperial Airways

Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East....
) from Karachi
Karachi

is the largest city, seaport and the International financial centre of Pakistan. It is List of metropolitan areas by population in terms of metropolitan population, and is Pakistan's premier centre of banking, industry, and trade....
's Drigh Road Aerodrome to Bombay's Juhu Airstrip
Juhu Aerodrome

Juhu Aerodrome an airport serving Mumbai , was India's first civil aviation airport opening in 1928 as the then Vile Parle Flying Club. J. R. D....
 via Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat and one of the List of most populous metropolitan areas in India in India, with a population of approximately 52 lakhs ....
. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary
Bellary

Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India....
 piloted by former Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the United Kingdom's air force, the oldest independent air force in the world. Formed on 1 April 1918, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history ever since, playing a large part in World War II and in more recent conflicts....
 pilot Nevill Vintcent
Nevill Vintcent

Nevill Vintcent, O.B.E., Distinguished Flying Cross was a South African aviator and airline founder.He was the son of Charles Vintcent, a South African cricketer....
.

Following the end of World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, regular commercial service was restored in India and Tata Airlines became a public limited company on 29 July 1946 under the name Air India. In 1948, after the Independence of India, 49% of the airline was acquired by the Government of India
Government of India

The Government of India , officially referred to as the Union Government, and also as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of States and territories of India, collectively called the Republic of India....
, with an option to purchase an additional 2%. In return, the airline was granted status to operate international services from India as the designated flag carrier
Flag carrier

A flag carrier refers to a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that is locally registered in a given country. They may be state-run, state-owned or state-designated companies or organisations with preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government....
 under the name Air India International. On 8 June 1948, a Lockheed Constellation
Lockheed Constellation

The Lockheed Constellation, affectionately known as the "Connie", was a four-engine propeller-driven airliner built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility....
 L-749A named Malabar Princess and registered VT-CQP took off from Bombay
Mumbai

Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
 bound for London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 via Cairo
Cairo

Cairo , which means "the triumphant", is the Cairo and largest city of Egypt.It is the most populous metropolitan area in Egypt and is also one of the most populous in the world....
 and Geneva
Geneva

Geneva is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie . Situated where the Rh?ne River exits Lake Geneva , it is the capital of the Canton of Geneva....
. This marked the airline's first long-haul international flight, soon followed by service in 1950 to Nairobi
Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital city and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi Province. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai language phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters"....
 via Aden
Aden

Aden is a city in Yemen, 170 kilometers east of Bab-el-Mandeb.Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a low isthmus....
.

On 1 August 1953, the Government of India
Government of India

The Government of India , officially referred to as the Union Government, and also as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of States and territories of India, collectively called the Republic of India....
 exercised its option to purchase a majority stake in the carrier and Air India International Limited was born as one of the fruits of the Air Corporations Act that nationalised the air transportation industry. At the same time all domestic services were transferred to Indian Airlines. In 1954, the airline took delivery of its first L-1049 Super Constellations
Lockheed Constellation

The Lockheed Constellation, affectionately known as the "Connie", was a four-engine propeller-driven airliner built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility....
 and inaugurated services to Bangkok
Bangkok

The city of Bangkok is the Capital , largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai language as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or Krung Thep for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom and came to the forefront of Thailand when it was given the status as the...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
, Tokyo
Tokyo

, officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshu. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the Tokyo City in the eastern part of the prefecture, and total over 8 million people....
 and Singapore
Singapore

Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country microstate located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It lies 137 kilometres north of the equator, south of the Malaysian state of Johor and north of Indonesia's Riau Islands....
.

Air India International entered the jet age
Jet age

The Jet Age is a period of history defined by the social change brought about by the advent of large aircraft powered by gas turbine engines. These aircraft are able to fly much higher, faster, and farther than older piston engine-powered propliners, making transcontinental and inter-continental travel considerably faster and easier: for exam...
 in 1960 when its first Boeing 707
Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly spoken as "Seven Oh Seven"....
, named Nandadevi and registered VT-DJJ, was delivered. Jet services to New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
 via London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 were inaugurated that same year in May 1960. On 8 June 1962, the airline's name was officially truncated to Air India. On 11 June 1962, Air India became the world's first all-jet airline.

Expansion

In 1970, Air India moved its offices to downtown Mumbai/Bombay. The next year, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747-200B named Emperor Ashoka and registered VT-EBD. This coincided with the introduction of the 'Palace In The Sky' livery and branding. A distinctive feature of this livery is the paintwork around each aircraft window, in the cusped arch style of windows in Indian palaces. In 1986 Air India took delivery of the Airbus A310-300
Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range Wide-body aircraft airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS....
; the airline is the largest operator of this type in passenger service. In 1988, Air India also took delivery of two Boeing 747-300M
Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, often referred to by the nickname "Jumbo Jet". It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced....
s in mixed passenger-cargo configuration. In 1989, to supplement its "Flying Palace" livery, Air India introduced a new "sun" livery that was mostly white but had a golden sun on a red tail. Only applied to around a half of Air India's fleet, the new livery did not succeed, as the Indian flying public complained about the phasing out of the classic colours. The new livery was dropped after two years and the old scheme was returned.
Mumbai Skyline
In 1993, Air India took delivery of the flagship of its fleet when the first Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400

The Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, and is the most recent version of the Boeing 747 aircraft in service. The -400 series is the best selling and the most advanced model, currently flying, of the 747 family....
 named Konark and registered VT-ESM made history by operating the first non-stop flight between New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport

John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located on Long Island, in Queens County, New York in southeastern New York City about 12 miles from Lower Manhattan....
 and Delhi
Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is an airport located in Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, it is the busiest airport in India in terms of number of daily flights and the second-busiest in India in terms of passenger volume....
. In 1994 the airline was registered as Air India Ltd. In 1996, the airline inaugurated service to its second US gateway at O'Hare International Airport
O'Hare International Airport

O'Hare International Airport , also known simply as O'Hare Airport or O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop....
 in Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
. In 1999, the airline opened its dedicated Terminal 2-C at the newly renamed Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport , formerly Sahar Airport, is situated in the city of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India.The airport, with its two terminals spread over an operational area of , is India's largest and most important aviation airline hub and it primarily serves the Mumbai....
 in Mumbai
Mumbai

Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
.

In 2000, Air India introduced services to Shanghai
Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the East Asian region, and is the primary international airport serving Shanghai of the People's Republic of China....
, as well as to Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving Los Angeles, California, California, the United States metropolitan area of the United States....
 and Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark, New Jersey and Elizabeth, New Jersey, New Jersey, United States....
. On May 2004, Air India launched a wholly-owned low cost airline called Air India Express. Air India Express connecting cities in India with the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Subcontinent. Air India expanded its international routes to include non-stop flights from Ahmedabad
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is India's eighth busiest airport with an average of 150 aircraft movements a day. It services the metropolitan areas of two cities in the States and territories of India of Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, and is located from the Ahmedabad Railway Station....
 and also expanded its international operations from Bangalore and Hyderabad.

On 8 March 2004, International Women's Day
International Women's Day

International Women's Day is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women....
, the airline operated an "All Women Flight" from Mumbai to Singapore. Captain Rashmi Miranda, who became Air-India's first female Commander in November 2003 and Captain Kshmata Bajpai piloted the flight, an Airbus A310-300 aircraft. The flight dispatch activities relating to this flight were also coordinated by a female Flight Dispatcher, Vasanti Kolnad. The Safety Audit on board was also conducted by another woman, Harpreet D Singh. The airline has seventeen female pilots, including five trainee pilots.

In 2007, the Government announced that Air India would be merged with Indian Airlines. As part of the merger process, a new company called the National Aviation Company of India Limited
National Aviation Company of India Limited

The National Aviation Company of India Limited was established in 2007 and is owned by the Government of India and headquartered in Mumbai. The Company was created to facilitate the merger of the two main state-owned airlines in India: Air India, with its subsidiary Air India Express and Indian Airlines, together with its subsidiary Alliance...
 (or NACIL) was established, into which both Air India (along with Air India Express) and Indian Airlines (along with Alliance Air
Alliance Air

Air India Regional started as Alliance Air , which was the Low-cost carrier arm of Indian Airlines. As part of Indian Airlines' merger with Air India, Alliance Air was renamed Air India Regional....
) have been merged. Once the merger is complete, the airline - which will continue to be called Air India - will continue to be headquartered in Mumbai.

Star Alliance
Star Alliance

Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance. Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines....
 announced on 13 December 2007 that it had invited Air India to join as a member. Air India is set to become a full Star Alliance member in 2009.

On 1 March 2009 Air India announced that it would make Frankfurt
Frankfurt

is the largest city in the German States of Germany of Hesse and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Germany, with a 2008 population of 670,000....
 its Global Aviation Hub for Flights to and from the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 to India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. From 29 March 2009 onwards Air India's Flights to Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
 and Newark
Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest City in New Jersey, and the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey. Newark has a population of 281,402, making it not only List of Municipalities in New Jersey but also the 65th List of United States cities by population Newark is also home to major corporations, such as Prudential Financial....
 from Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 and Mumbai
Mumbai

Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
 respectively will be operated Via Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport may refer to:Airports of Frankfurt, Germany:* Frankfurt Airport , the largest airport in Germany* Frankfurt-Hahn Airport , a converted U.S....
  . Air India is also adding Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat and one of the List of most populous metropolitan areas in India in India, with a population of approximately 52 lakhs ....
-Frankfurt
Frankfurt

is the largest city in the German States of Germany of Hesse and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Germany, with a 2008 population of 670,000....
 shortly and later third non stop flight to US Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
-San Francisco in fall 2009.

Subsidiaries

Air India's current subsidiaries are Air India Cargo
Air India Cargo

Air India Cargo is the cargo division of Air India, it is based in Mumbai. The airline operates freighter services to twelve domestic and two international cities....
, a separate division that provides air cargo services with a dedicated fleet, and Air India Express, a low-cost airline that operates flights mainly to the Middle East
Middle East

File:GreaterMiddleEast1.pngThe Middle East is a region that spans southwestern Asia, western Asia, and northeastern Africa. It has no clear boundaries, often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East....
. With the merger of Indian Airlines and its subsidiary Air India Regional into Air India, these two airlines will also become subsidiaries of Air India.

Destinations

Air India serves 11 domestic destinations and 17 international destinations in 11 countries by itself and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across the Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania through codesharing with partner airlines. Together with its subsidiaries and related carriers, the group connects over 100 destinations worldwide.

Fleet

Each subsidiary maintains a separate fleet of aircraft. Air India operates an all wide-body fleet composed of Airbus A310
Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range Wide-body aircraft airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS....
, Airbus A330
Airbus A330

The Airbus A330 is a large-capacity, wide-body aircraft, twinjet, medium-to-long-range commercial passenger airliner. It was developed at the same time as the four-engined Airbus A340....
, Boeing 747
Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, often referred to by the nickname "Jumbo Jet". It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced....
 and Boeing 777
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
 aircraft.
Air India Fleet
AircraftIn ServiceOrdersOptionsPassengers
(First/Business/Economy)
RoutesNotes
Airbus A310-300
Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range Wide-body aircraft airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS....
1000183 (0/??/???)
201 (0/20/181)
206 (0/18/188)
256 (0/??/???)
Domestic,East Asia,Middle East8 dry leased
1 wet leased from Czech Airlines
Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines j.s.c. , trading as Czech Airlines , is the Czech Republic national airline company based at Ruzyne Airport, Prague. It operates scheduled services to 69 destinations in 41 countries, including most major European cities and to transit points in the Middle East, North America, North Africa and Asia....

1 wet leased from White Airways
Will be replaced by Boeing 787-8
Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, Wide-body aircraft, twinjet jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes....
Airbus A330-200
Airbus A330

The Airbus A330 is a large-capacity, wide-body aircraft, twinjet, medium-to-long-range commercial passenger airliner. It was developed at the same time as the four-engined Airbus A340....
200279 (0/24/255)East Asiadry leased,
Will be replaced by Boeing 787-8
Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, Wide-body aircraft, twinjet jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes....
Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400

The Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, and is the most recent version of the Boeing 747 aircraft in service. The -400 series is the best selling and the most advanced model, currently flying, of the 747 family....
600423 (12/26/385)Europe,North AmericaTo be retired by 2016,
PTV with AVOD with new interior
Boeing 777-200
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
100258 (12/49/197)Europe,Middle East,
North America
dry leased from United Airlines
United Airlines

United Air Lines, Inc., trading as United Airlines , is a major carrier of the United States. It is a subsidiary of UAL Corporation with corporate offices in Chicago at 77 West Wacker Drive, and its operations base in nearby Elk Grove Village, Illinois....
,
PTV with AVOD.
Boeing 777-200ER
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
300292 (8/21/263)Europe,Middle East,
North America
dry leased from United Airlines
United Airlines

United Air Lines, Inc., trading as United Airlines , is a major carrier of the United States. It is a subsidiary of UAL Corporation with corporate offices in Chicago at 77 West Wacker Drive, and its operations base in nearby Elk Grove Village, Illinois....
,
PTV with AVOD,
Will be replaced with new Boeing 777-300ERs.
Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
530238 (8/35/195)New YorkDeliveries through 2009,
PTV with AVOD
Boeing 777-300ER
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
5100342 (4/35/303)Europe,North AmericaDeliveries through 2011,
PTV with AVOD
Boeing 787-8
Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, Wide-body aircraft, twinjet jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes....
0270225 (0/??/???) Replacing all Airbus A310-300
Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range Wide-body aircraft airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS....
s and Airbus A330-200s
Service Entry 2010
Total32400   

The average age of Air India's fleet is 11.9 years as of January 2009 (excluding freighter aircraft).
Air India Express has a fleet of 21 Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737

The Boeing 737 is a short to medium range, single aisle, narrow-body aircraft jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower cost twin engine airliner derived from Boeing's Boeing 707 and Boeing 727, the 737 has nine variants, from the early -100 to the most recent and largest, the -900....
 aircraft (with an additional four aircraft on order) including 7 dry leased Boeing 737-800s.

Indian Airlines has a fleet of 72 aircraft consisting of Airbus A319-100
Airbus A320

The Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range commercial passenger airliners are manufactured by Airbus, the only narrowbody family manufactured by them....
, Airbus A320-200
Airbus A320

The Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range commercial passenger airliners are manufactured by Airbus, the only narrowbody family manufactured by them....
 and Airbus A321-200
Airbus A320

The Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range commercial passenger airliners are manufactured by Airbus, the only narrowbody family manufactured by them....
 aircraft with 24 additional aircraft on order.

Air India Regional has a fleet of 10 aircraft consisting of ATR 42
ATR 42

The ATR 42 is a twin-turboprop, short-haul regional airliner built in France and Italy by ATR . The name "42" comes from the aircraft's standard seating, which varies from 40 to 50....
s and Bombardier CRJ700
Bombardier CRJ700

The Bombardier CRJ700, CRJ900, and CRJ1000 are regional airliners based on the Bombardier CRJ200. Final assembly of the aircraft is at Montr?al-Mirabel International Airport near Montreal, Qu?bec....
s.

Fleet orders and changes

The first Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
 aircraft was delivered by Boeing
Boeing

The Boeing Company is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997....
 to Air India on 26 July 2007. The Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
 is used on non-stop routes from Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
 and Mumbai
Mumbai

Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
 to New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
. This aircraft and the Boeing 787-8
Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, Wide-body aircraft, twinjet jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes....
 are expected to allow Air India to open up new routes to Australia, Canada, Europe, East Asia, Africa and the United States (Air India plans to start flights to additional cities in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 and Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
, which include Boston/Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the Capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790....
, Dallas/Houston, San Francisco and Vancouver
Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal city and major seaport located in the Lower Mainland of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city in British Columbia and the second largest metropolitan area in the Pacific Northwest region....
). The Boeing 787-8
Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, Wide-body aircraft, twinjet jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes....
 aircraft on order are to replace its aging fleet of Airbus A310-300
Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range Wide-body aircraft airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS....
 aircraft. As an interim measure, to overcome the Boeing 787 delays, Air India has leased 2 Airbus A330-200
Airbus A330

The Airbus A330 is a large-capacity, wide-body aircraft, twinjet, medium-to-long-range commercial passenger airliner. It was developed at the same time as the four-engined Airbus A340....
 aircraft, however these aircraft are registered to Indian Airlines and operate to destinations in East Asia.

There has been no announcement as to whether Air India will order very large aircraft such as the Airbus A380-800
Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a Double-deck aircraft, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS....
 or Boeing 747-8
Boeing 747-8

The Boeing 747-8 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner being developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Officially announced in 2005, the 747-8 is the latest evolutionary variant of the Boeing 747, with lengthened fuselage, redesigned wings and improved efficiency....
.

Retired


Livery

Air India's current livery
Aircraft livery

Aircraft livery is a paint scheme applied to an aircraft, generally to fuselage, wings, tailfin or jet engines....
 was unveiled in May 2007. It is a cross between Air India's old predominately red and white livery and Indian Airlines's livery. The new livery was first seen in July 2007 on a new Boeing 777-200LR when Air India and Indian Airlines formally became one airline. The fleets of both airlines will be painted in the new livery.

The logo of the combined airline is a Flying Swan with the Konark Chakra
Konark Sun Temple

Konark Sun Temple is a 13th-century Sun Temple , at Konark, in Orissa.It was built in red sandstone and black granite by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty....
 placed inside it. The Flying Swan has been adapted from Air India’s characteristic logo, ‘The Centaur’ whereas the Konark Chakra is reminiscent of the Indian Airlines logo. The logo is featured on the tail of the aircraft and the Konark Chakra is on the engines. Colours are red for “Flying Swan” and orange for “Konark Chakra".

While the base colour for the new livery is ivory, Air India's characteristic red has been retained. Running parallel to each other are orange and red speed lines from the front door to the rear door. The brand name ‘Air India’ runs across the tail of the aircraft.

Passenger operations

The airline carried 3.39 million passengers during the financial year ending March 2003 and achieved a load factor of 71.6 per cent, substantially higher than the 66 per cent load factor recorded in the preceding year. Air India offers three classes of serviceFirst Class, Executive Class and Economy Class. Flat bed seats are offered for First and Executive Class passengers. Air India’s frequent flyer programme is called Flying Returns and is shared with Indian Airlines and other subsidiaries. Aside from flight mileage, members receive seat discounts, class upgrades, free hotel stays and other benefits. The airline also offers luxury lounges in its ground terminals for its First and Executive class travelers in select destinations within India. Air India has duty free sales on board its flights, named "Sky Bazaar".

On board


Airbus A310

Air India's Airbus A310-300
Airbus A310

The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range Wide-body aircraft airliner. Launched in 1978, it was the second aircraft created by the Airbus consortium of European aerospace companies, which is now fully owned by EADS....
 fleet fly mainly to medium haul destinations such as Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
, Osaka
Osaka

is a Cities of Japan in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshu.Osaka is a City designated by government ordinance under the Local Autonomy Law and the capital city of Osaka Prefecture....
, Jeddah
Jeddah

Jeddah is a Saudi Arabian city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh....
, Riyadh
Riyadh

Riyadh is the Capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama....
 and Dammam
Dammam

Dammam is the Capital of the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia in Saudi Arabia. Dammam is the largest city in the Eastern Province; Dammam Port is one of the largest on the Persian Gulf....
. The average age of Air India's Airbus A310-300 fleet is 16.7 years.

Most Airbus A310-300 aircraft are Ex-Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Limited is the Flag carrier of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Singapore Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets....
 aircraft and as such feature the older two-class Singapore Airlines configuration. Business and Economy class seats are standard and no personal televisions (PTVs) are provided in either class. These aircraft will eventually be replaced by the Boeing 787-8.

Boeing 747

Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400

The Boeing 747-400 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, and is the most recent version of the Boeing 747 aircraft in service. The -400 series is the best selling and the most advanced model, currently flying, of the 747 family....
 aircraft fly medium haul destinations such as London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
 and Frankfurt
Frankfurt

is the largest city in the German States of Germany of Hesse and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Germany, with a 2008 population of 670,000....
 and long haul destinations like Newark
Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest City in New Jersey, and the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey. Newark has a population of 281,402, making it not only List of Municipalities in New Jersey but also the 65th List of United States cities by population Newark is also home to major corporations, such as Prudential Financial....
 and Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
. The average age of the Air India Boeing 747-400 fleet is 13.9 years.

Boeing 747-400 aircraft are configured in a three class configuration with new interior. First class features a flat bed seat, with up to 180 degree recline. Business class also has premium seats, with added recline and cushioning. Economy class features 32-34 inch seat pitch.

All Boeing 747-400 aircraft have undergone complete refurbishment, adding enhancements such as widescreen PTVs with Audio-Video On Demand (AVOD) in all classes and improved seats in First and Business class. The cabin is upgraded with all new economy seats, cushions and upholstery. New overhead bins and aircraft side panels, a new coat of paint for the side trims, new cockpit trims and new toilets are part of the refurbished aircraft.

In-flight entertainment on the refurbished Boeing 747-400s features the Thales TopSeries i4000 Entertainment system. This system features 10.4" widescreen displays for First and Business Class seats and 8.4" widescreen PTVs in Economy Class seats.

The Boeing 747-400 began service in 1993 and were primarily brought in to replace Air India's aging fleet of Boeing 747-237B
Boeing 747

The Boeing 747 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, often referred to by the nickname "Jumbo Jet". It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced....
s. They have been named after places of cultural interest in India.

All Boeing 747-400 aircraft are due to be retired by 2016, and will be replaced by Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Boeing 777


Boeing 777
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
 aircraft fly to medium haul destinations such as Dubai
Dubai

Dubai is one of the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates and the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates . It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula....
, Frankfurt
Frankfurt

is the largest city in the German States of Germany of Hesse and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Germany, with a 2008 population of 670,000....
, London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
, Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
 and Tokyo
Tokyo

, officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshu. The twenty-three special wards of Tokyo, each governed as a city, cover the area that was once the Tokyo City in the eastern part of the prefecture, and total over 8 million people....
 and long haul destinations like New York
New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
 and Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
.

Air India operates several variants of the Boeing 777
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
—the Boeing 777-200
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
, Boeing 777-200ER
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
, Boeing 777-200LR
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
 and Boeing 777-300ER
Boeing 777

The Boeing 777 is a long-range, Wide-body aircraft twin-engine airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The world's largest twinjet and commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven", the aircraft can carry between 283 and 368 passengers in a three-class configuration, and has a range from 5,235 to 9,380 nautical miles ....
.

Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 777-200ER are leased from United Airlines
United Airlines

United Air Lines, Inc., trading as United Airlines , is a major carrier of the United States. It is a subsidiary of UAL Corporation with corporate offices in Chicago at 77 West Wacker Drive, and its operations base in nearby Elk Grove Village, Illinois....
, and as such feature United Airlines interiors. All seats in all classes feature a Personal Television, and business class and first class seats are not lie-flat.

Air India's recently delivered fleet of Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft feature brand new interiors. The Airline selected the Thales TopSeries i5000 entertainment system for in-flight entertainment on board its new Boeing 777-200LRs and Boeing 777-300ERs..

First class features lie-flat beds with 23" widescreen PTVs with AVOD. The seats include an in-seat massage function, USB ports and laptop power supplies. Business class is the "shell" type and also converts into a completely flat seat. Business class features an 15" widescreen PTVs with laptop power supplies and USB ports. These 777 aircraft feature Air India's new economy class which have 33 to 35 inch seat pitch and 10.6" widescreen PTVs with AVOD.

Maharajah Lounge


Maharajah Lounge means "Emperor's Lounge", and is offered to First and Executive class passengers. Air India shares lounges with other airlines at airports that do not have a Maharajah Lounge available. There are five Maharajah Lounges, each at one of the five major destinations of Air India, which are as following:
  • Chennai
    Chennai

    Chennai , formerly Indian renaming controversy , is the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Indian states and territories of India of Tamil Nadu....
    , India
    India

    India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
  • Delhi
    Delhi

    Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
    , India
    India

    India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
  • London
    London

    London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
    , United Kingdom
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
  • Mumbai
    Mumbai

    Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
    , India
    India

    India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
  • New York
    New York City

    The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
    , USA
Air India is in talks with the operators of the Delhi
Delhi

Delhi , sometimes referred to as Dilli , is the List of most populous cities in India metropolis in India and, with over 11 million residents, the List of metropolitan areas by population....
, Mumbai
Mumbai

Mumbai— formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city proper has approximately 14 million people and, along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, Mumbai forms the World's largest urban agglomerations according to the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects report with around 19...
 and Hyderabad
Hyderabad International Airport

Hyderabad International Airport also known as Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, is a new airport near Shamshabad, about from the city of Hyderabad, India, in India....
 airports to set up lounges in new terminals being constructed there.

Codeshares

As of March 2009, Air India has codesharing agreements with the following airlines:
Air India Code Share Partners and Destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Aeroflot
Aeroflot

OJSC "AeroflotRussian Airlines" , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the largest airline in Russia, based on passengers carried per year. Aeroflot is one of the List of airlines by foundation date in the world, tracing its history back to 1923....
 **
Moscow
Air France
Air France

Air France , based in Paris, France, is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance....
 **
Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris
Air Mauritius
Air Mauritius

Air Mauritius Limited is the national airline of Mauritius, based in Port Louis, the island's capital. It operates regional and international services to over 30 destinations with 80 flights per week....
Mauritius
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines AG is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Vienna. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates scheduled services to over 130 destinations....
 (SA)
Vienna
Egyptair
EgyptAir

EgyptAir is the flag carrier airline of the Egypt and a member of Star Alliance. The airline is based at Cairo International Airport, its main hub, operating scheduled passenger and freight services to more than 70 destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas....
 (SA)
Cairo
Emirates
Emirates Airline

Emirates Airline is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . In 2008 the airline was the World's largest airlines#Scheduled international passengers carried airline in the world in terms of international passengers carried, and World's largest airlines#Scheduled international passenger-kilometres flown in th...
Dubai
Kuwait Airways
Kuwait Airways

Kuwait Airways is the flag carrierairline of Kuwait, based in Kuwait City and wholly owned by the Kuwaiti Government. It operates scheduled international services throughout the Middle East, to the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Southeast Asia and the United States....
Kuwait City
Indian Airlinesdomestic destinations
Lufthansa
Lufthansa

Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft is one of the List of largest airlines in Europe airlines in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried, and the flag carrier of Germany....
 (SA)
Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago-O'Hare, Copenhagen, Denver, Detriot, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Lyon, Munich, Oslo, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Washington,D.C.
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines is the flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its secondary hub in Kota Kinabalu International Airport....
Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Melbourne
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Limited is the Flag carrier of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Singapore Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets....
 (SA)
Bangkok, Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Melbourne, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney
Swiss International Airlines (SA)Zurich
Thai Airways International
Thai Airways International

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is the flag carrier of Thailand, operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, and is a founding member of the Star Alliance network....
 (SA)
Bangkok, Shanghai
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines

THY - Turkish Airlines, Inc. is the flag carrier of Turkey based in Istanbul. It operates a network of scheduled services to 140 international and 35 domestic cities, serving a total of 155 airports, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America....
 (SA)
Istanbul-Ataturk


With Air India's own entry into Star Alliance
Star Alliance

Star Alliance is the world's first and largest airline alliance. Founded in 1997, its name and emblem represent the five founding airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Thai Airways International, and United Airlines....
 (SA) scheduled for 2009, code share and all other agreements through these Sky Team** partners will be terminated.


Challenges

India has the world's fastest growing airline industry. However, increasing fuel prices resulted in a 4% decline in air traffic in June 2008. Increasing competition of other major Indian carriers like Jet Airways
Jet Airways

Jet Airways is an airline based in Mumbai, India. It is the country's largest international airline before Air India and the largest domestic airline, along with Jetlite....
 and Kingfisher Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines is an airline based in Bangalore, India. It operates 218 flights a day and has a network of 38 destinations, with regional and long-haul international services....
 has also caused problems for Air India. Jet Airways is now the largest domestic carrier in India and Kingfisher Airlines has narrowed its gap with Air India in domestic market share. In July 2008, it was reported that Air India was seeking US$534 million in aid from the Indian government to cover its losses. In the wake of rising fuel prices, the airline decided to hike its air fare in June 2008.

Awards and Recognitions

  • The airline entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest evacuation by a civil airliner. Over 111,000 people were evacuated from Amman to Mumbai a distance of 4,117 km, by operating 488 flights in association with Indian Airlines, from 13 August to 11 October, 1990 lasting 59 days. The operation was carried out during Persian Gulf War
    Gulf War

    "Persian Gulf War" and "First Gulf War" redirect here. For other uses, see Persian Gulf War .The Persian Gulf War was a United Nations-authorized military conflict between Iraq and a Coalition of Gulf War from 34 nations commissioned with expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait of Kuwait in August 1990....
     in 1990 to evacuate Indian expatriates
    Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin

    A non-resident Indian is an Indian nationality law who has emigration to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides outside India....
     from Kuwait and Iraq.
  • The airline received The Mercury Award
    The Mercury Award

    This page is about The Mercury Award for air catering. For the Mercury Music Prize, see that article.The Mercury Award is an international award conferred by the International Travel Catering Association for setting high standards in in-flight catering....
     for the years 1994 and 2003, from the International Flight Catering Association, for finest in-flight catering services.
  • The United Nations
    United Nations

    The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, Social change, human rights and achieving world peace....
     awarded Air India the Montreal Protocol Public Awareness Award for environmental protection, especially in the ozone layer.
  • Air India won the Preferred International Airline' award for travel and hospitality from Awaz Consumer Awards 2006
  • Air India's security department became the first aviation security organisation in the world to acquire ISO 9002 certification (31 January 31 2001).
  • Air India's Department of Engineering has obtained the ISO 9002 for its Engineering facilities for meeting international standards.


Accidents and incidents

Since it began operations, four Air India flights have crashed including one due to a terrorist attack. Air India has a record of 6.82 fatalities per million flights on average.

  • Air India Flight 101
    Air India Flight 101

    Air India Flight 101 was a scheduled Air India passenger flight that crashed into Mont Blanc in France on the morning of 24 January 1966....
     Kanchenjunga a Boeing 707-437
    Boeing 707

    The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly spoken as "Seven Oh Seven"....
     crashed on Mont Blanc, on the border between France and Italy, killing 117 on 24 January 1966. Among the dead was the noted Indian scientist, Homi J. Bhabha
    Homi J. Bhabha

    Homi Jehangir Bhabha, Royal Society#Fellowship was an Indian nuclear physics who had a major role in the development of the Indian atomic energy program and is considered to be the father of India's nuclear program....
    .


  • Air India Flight 855
    Air India Flight 855

    Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight that crashed in the evening of 1 January 1978 about 4 kilometers off the coast of Bandra, Bombay , India....
     Emperor Ashoka a Boeing 747-237B
    Boeing 747

    The Boeing 747 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, often referred to by the nickname "Jumbo Jet". It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced....
     crashed into the Arabian Sea
    Arabian Sea

    The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia, Socotra, Kanyakumari in India, and the western coast of Sri Lanka....
     after takeoff from Sahar Airport (now Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport
    Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport

    Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport , formerly Sahar Airport, is situated in the city of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India.The airport, with its two terminals spread over an operational area of , is India's largest and most important aviation airline hub and it primarily serves the Mumbai....
    ) in Bombay on 1 January 1978, killing all on board (213 persons; 190 passengers, 23 crew).


  • On 21 June 1982 Gouri Shankar a Boeing 707-437
    Boeing 707

    The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly spoken as "Seven Oh Seven"....
     coming from Kuala Lumpur
    Kuala Lumpur

    Kuala Lumpur , is the largest city of Malaysia. The city proper, making up an area of , has an estimated population of 1.6 million in 2006. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million....
     via Madras (now Chennai
    Chennai

    Chennai , formerly Indian renaming controversy , is the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Indian states and territories of India of Tamil Nadu....
    ) crashed at Sahar International Airport after a heavy landing during a rainstorm. The fuselage exploded after starting a late go-around. 90 occupants were on the aircraft. 2 of 12 crew members and 15 of 99 passengers were killed in the crash.


  • At 07:13 on Sunday, 23 June 1985, an explosion in the New Tokyo International Airport (now Narita International Airport
    Narita International Airport

    is an international airport located in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, in the eastern portion of the Greater Tokyo Area. It is located 60 kilometers from downtown Tokyo....
    ) baggage terminal killed two Japanese
    Japanese people

    The are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan....
     baggage handlers, and injured four. The Babbar Khalsa Terrorists
    Babbar Khalsa

    Babbar Khalsa International is among group of several Sikh Jathebandis calling for the formation of an independent Sikh state. The envisioned state, called Khalistan by its proponents, would comprise Indian territory in the Punjab , and Punjabi language-speaking areas of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan....
     intended the bomb in that bag for Air India Flight 301
    Air India Flight 301

    At 07:13 on Sunday June 23, 1985 an explosion in the New Tokyo International Airport baggage terminal killed two baggage handlers, and injured four. The bomb in that bag was intended for Air India Flight 301 with 177 passengers and crew on board, bound for Bangkok....
     with 177 passengers and crew on board, bound for Bangkok-Don Mueang.


  • Air India Flight 182
    Air India Flight 182

    Air India Flight 182 was an Air India flight operating on the Toronto-Montr?al-London-Delhi-Bombay route. On 23 June 1985 the Boeing 747#747-200 operating on the route was blown up in midair by a bomb in Irish airspace in the single deadliest terrorist attack involving an aircraft to that date....
     Emperor Kanishka a Boeing 747-237B
    Boeing 747

    The Boeing 747 is a wide-body aircraft commercial airliner, often referred to by the nickname "Jumbo Jet". It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first widebody ever produced....
     was blown up in mid-air, mid-flight on 23 June 1985 by a suitcase-bomb as planted by Babbar Khalsa Terrorists
    Babbar Khalsa

    Babbar Khalsa International is among group of several Sikh Jathebandis calling for the formation of an independent Sikh state. The envisioned state, called Khalistan by its proponents, would comprise Indian territory in the Punjab , and Punjabi language-speaking areas of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan....
     allegedly as revenge for the Indian Government's attack (Operation Blue Star
    Operation Blue Star

    Operation Blue Star was an Indian military operation ordered by Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, to remove Sikh separatists who were amassing weapons in the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar....
    ) on the sacred Golden Temple
    Harmandir Sahib

    Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib , informally referred to as The Golden Temple or Temple of God, is culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras....
    . The flight was on the first leg on its Montréal
    Montréal-Mirabel International Airport

    Montreal-Mirabel International Airport, originally called Montreal International Airport and widely known simply as Mirabel is an airport located in Mirabel, Quebec, Quebec, near Montreal and was opened October 4, 1975....
    -London-Delhi-Bombay flight when it exploded off the coast of Cork
    Cork

    Cork may refer to:* Cork , used for bottle stoppers and noteboards* Cork , a city in Ireland* Cork * Cork encoding, a digital data format* Stopper or closure ...
    , Ireland
    Ireland

    Ireland is the List of islands by area in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islet....
    . The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. All 307 passengers and 22 crew on board died. After this incident Air India suspended all services to Canada, which were only resumed in 2005 - after a gap of 20 years.


Financials

The profitability of Air India as in the 2004 annual report by Ministry of Civil Aviation with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.
Year Revenues Rs Crores Profit/(Loss) Rs Crores
2003 6,322 92
2005 9,251 18.5


External links