While many airlines flying in India today are relatively young compared to some of the global legacy carriers, the overall history of Indian aviation goes back to the initial years of the 20th century. Several milestone events have happened over the decades that have progressively shaped Indian aviation into what it looks like today; in this article, we will look back at those years.
1 First commercial flight and initial years
The events that laid the foundation
It all goes back to 1911 when French pilot Monseigneur Piguet flew roughly six miles from Allahabad (present-day Prayagraj) to Naini in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The commercial service carried more than 6,000 pieces of mail and was operated on a Humber biplane. Many even believe it to be the world’s first airmail service.
In 1912, the first international flight to and from India between Delhi and London via Karachi took off following a collaboration between Indian State Air services and Imperial Airways, UK. By 1915, the Tata Sons Ltd. Had also started flying between Karachi (in pre-divided India) and Madras (later renamed Chennai), offering a regular mail service, and five years later, the Royal Airforce had started flying between Karachi and Bombay, delivering mail.
In 1932, Tata Airlines (which would eventually become the Air India we know today) came into being, and a couple of years later, several airlines in the country, such as Indian Trans Continental Airways, Madras Air Taxi Services, Indian National Airways, among others, set up shop.
In 1946, Tata Airlines was rebranded to Air India, and by 1948, a year after India’s independence, the airline had signed an agreement with the government to operate overseas services under the name Air India International. In June of that year, Air India took off for its first international flight between Bombay and London via Cairo and Geneva.
2 Jet age
A major development for Air India
In 1953, the Government of India decided to nationalize the aviation sector, and several regional airlines merged to form the primary domestic carrier, Indian Airlines.
Air India was the primary airline operating international services to and from the country, and the aviation sector took another giant leap in 1960 when Air India received its first Boeing 707, named Gauri Shankar.
This was also significant because, with the 707, Air India became the first Asian airline to enter the jet age. The aircraft opened several new global routes for the carrier, including to the US, and by 1962, Air India became the first airline in the world to operate an all-jet fleet.
In 1971, Air India acquired its first Boeing 747 aircraft, consolidating its position as a luxury carrier. It deployed the plane on some of its most ambitious routes, including between London and New York, and marketed it for its luxurious offerings. It crafted special menus for the 747 routes and converted the upper deck into opulent “Maharaja” lounges, calling them “Your Palace in the Sky.”
3 Deregulation of the airline industry
Private airlines start a new aviation revolution in the country
Until the early 1990s, the Government of India held a monopoly in the aviation sector. Flying was still a dream for most Indians, but a significant change took place in 1994 when the government passed the Air Corporations (Transfer of Undertakings and Repeal) Act.
This allowed private players to enter India’s domestic market. Jet Airways, Modiluft, Air Sahara, and other such airlines are a product of that era as the playing field became level, and Indians had more options to choose from for their flights.
Still, full-service carriers were the norm back in the day, and even with such proliferation, air travel was within the reach of a privileged few. It would take almost another decade for the following considerable change in Indian aviation to arrive.
The Story Of Jet Airways – From Boom To Near Bust
The Story Of Jet Airways – From Boom To Near Bust
4 The advent of low-cost airlines
New players challenge the incumbents
One doesn’t have to go too far back because, as late as the early 2000s, only a handful of full-service airlines controlled the Indian aviation sector, with flight tickets still out of reach of even many middle-class Indians.
But, in 2003, the country got the taste of its first low-cost airline called Air Deccan, and in a few years, several airlines had sprouted, such as SpiceJet, Go First, and, of course, IndiGo, which today is India’s largest airline.
Never before had Indian passengers seen such low airfares, and for the first time, airlines were catering to what could be considered ‘the masses.’ Established players, such as Jet Airways, had to pivot their business strategies to keep prices competitive, and it was also around this time when Air India and Indian Airlines merged operations to become a single airline.
The emergence of low-cost carriers unearthed a massive appetite for flying within the country and has been a significant factor in pushing India into becoming the third-largest aviation market in the world.
What Happened To India’s Air Deccan?
Serving as a pioneer for India’s low-cost aviation market, Air Deccan provided affordable and accessible travel until its merger with Kingfisher Red.
5 Privatization of Air India
The airline returns to its original owners
Air India’s privatization in 2022 was a significant milestone not just in the carrier’s history but also for the country’s aviation sector. It meant different things to different people. Those of a certain vintage, who are old enough to remember the carrier in its golden age, were happy to see it return to the Tatas.
For the young aspirational Indians, Air India’s change of ownership created a sense of hope that the country would get a flag carrier that could compete with the best in the world (though there’s still time for that) and open new convenient non-stop routes.
For IndiGo, this has meant that, for the first time in years, there’s a credible challenge to its near unsurmountable lead, as Air India emerges from being a sluggish state-run carrier to an efficient private airline, firmly focused on giving good service and making profits.
As Indian aviation heads towards another remarkable growth phase in the next few years, we’re sure many new milestones will be achieved.
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