Founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines byJ. R. D. Tata, Tata himself flew its first single-enginede Havilland Puss Moth, carryingair mail fromKarachi to Bombay'sJuhu aerodrome and later continuing toMadras (currentlyChennai). After World War II, it wasnationalised by the Government of India in 1953 and was renamedAir India.[4] On 21 February 1960, it took delivery of its firstBoeing 707 namedGauri Shankar and became the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft in its fleet. In 2000–01, attempts were made to privatise Air India, and from 2006 onwards, it suffered losses after its merger withIndian Airlines. Another privatisation attempt was launched in 2017, which concluded with ownership of the airline and associated properties returning to the Tata Group after 69 years in 2022.[5]
Air India also operates flights to domestic and Asian destinations through its subsidiaryAir India Express. Air India operates a mix ofnarrow body aircraft such as theAirbus A320 family andBoeing 737 used for most domestic and short-haul international routes andwide body aircraft such as theAirbus A350,Boeing 777 andBoeing 787 aircraft for long haul international routes. Air India's mascot istheMaharajah (high king) and the erstwhile logo consisted of a flying swan with thewheel of Konark inside it, before being replaced by a new logo inspired by the airline'sJharokha window pattern in 2023.
History
Early years (1932–1945)
Tata Air Service
Air India had its origin inTata Sons, founded byJ. R. D. Tata, an Indian aviator and business tycoon.[6] In April 1932, Tata won a contract to carry mail forImperial Airways and the aviation department of Tata Sons was formed with two single-enginede Havilland Puss Moths. On 15 October 1932, Tata flew a Puss Moth carryingair mail fromKarachi toBombay (currentlyMumbai) and the aircraft continued toMadras (currentlyChennai) piloted byNevill Vintcent, a formerRoyal Air Force pilot and friend of Tata.[7] The airline fleet consisted of a Puss Moth aircraft and aLeopard Moth.[8][9] Initial service included weekly airmail service between Karachi and Madras viaAhmedabad and Bombay. In its first year of operation, the airline flew 160,000 miles (260,000 km), carrying 155 passengers and 9.72 tonnes (10.71 tons) of mail and made a profit of₹60,000 (US$710).[10][11] Later, the airline launched a domestic flight from Bombay toTrivandrum with a six-seaterMiles Merlin.[12] In 1938, it was re-christened asTata Air Services and later asTata Airlines.Delhi andColombo were added to the destinations in 1938.[7] During theSecond World War, the airline helped the Royal Air Force with troop movements, shipping of supplies, rescue of refugees and maintenance of planes.[7]
Post-Independence (1946–2000)
Air India became the first Asian carrier to induct a jet aircraft with theBoeing 707–420Gauri Shankar (registeredVT-DJJ)Air India Boeing 747-200B (registered VT-EGA). The airline operated 11 Boeing 747-200B aircraft in total.
AfterWorld War II, regular commercial service was restored in India and Tata Airlines became apublic limited company on 29 July 1946 under the nameAir India.[2] After theIndian independence in 1947, 49% of the airline was acquired by theGovernment of India in 1948.[13] On 8 June 1948, aLockheed Constellation L-749A namedMalabar Princess (registeredVT-CQP) took off fromBombay bound forLondon Heathrow marking the airline's first international flight.[7] In 1953, the Government of India passed the Air Corporations Act and purchased a majority stake in the carrier fromTata Sons, though its founder, J. R. D. Tata, would continue as chairman until 1977.[14] The company was renamed as Air India International Limited and the domestic services were transferred toIndian Airlines as a part of restructuring.[15] From 1948 to 1950, the airline introduced services toNairobi in Africa and to major European destinations Rome, Paris andDüsseldorf.[16] The airline took delivery of its first Lockheed Constellation L-1049 namedRani of Jhansi (registeredVT-DGL) and inaugurated services toBangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore.[16]
On 21 February 1960, Air India International inducted its firstBoeing 707–420 namedGauri Shankar (registeredVT-DJJ), thereby becoming the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft in its fleet.[17][18] The airline inaugurated services toNew York on 14 May 1960.[16] On 8 June 1962, the airline's name was officially truncated toAir India[2] and on 11 June 1962, Air India became the world's first all-jet airline.
In 1971, the airline took delivery of its firstBoeing 747-200B namedEmperor Ashoka (registeredVT-EBD)[19] and introduced a newPalace in the Sky livery and branding. The airline operated 11 Boeing 747-200 in total. In 1986, Air India took delivery of its firstAirbus A310-300 and in 1988, the airline took delivery of Boeing 747-300M.[16] In 1993, Air India took delivery of aBoeing 747-400 namedKonark (registeredVT-ESM) and operated the first non-stop flight between New York and Delhi.[20]
Financial trouble, merger with Indian and later (2000–2022)
Air IndiaAirbus A310-300. It sold three A300s in March 2009 due to debt.In January 2013, Air India cleared some of its debt by selling and leasing back the newly acquiredBoeing 787 Dreamliners. Also, the airline posted its first positiveEBITDA after almost six years.Air India joined theStar Alliance in 2014. Pictured is Air IndiaBoeing 787 Dreamliner (VT-ANU) in special Star Alliance livery.
In 2000–01, attempts were made to re-privatise Air India.[21][22][23][24] In 2000, Air India introduced services to Shanghai, China. On 23 May 2001, theMinistry of Civil Aviation charged Michael Mascarenhas, the then-managing director, with corruption. According to the ministry reports, the airline lost approximately₹570 million (US$6.7 million) because of extra commissions that Mascarenhas sanctioned, and he was later suspended from the airline.[25] In May 2004, Air India launched a wholly ownedlow cost subsidiary calledAir-India Express connecting cities in India with the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Until 2007, Air India mainly operated on international long-haul routes while Indian Airlines operated on domestic and international short-haul routes. In 2007, Air India and Indian Airlines were merged underAir India Limited[26] and the airline took delivery of its firstBoeing 777 aircraft.[16] The airline was invited to be a part of the Star Alliance in 2007.[27]
Around 2006, both Air India andIndian Airlines showed signs of financial crisis as combined losses were₹7.7 billion (US$91 million). After the merger, it went up to₹72 billion (US$850 million) by March 2009.[28][29] In July 2009,State Bank of India was appointed to prepare a road map for the recovery of the airline.[30] The carrier sold threeAirbus A300 and oneBoeing 747-300M in March 2009 for $18.75 million to finance the debt.[31] By March 2011, Air India had accumulated a debt of₹426 billion (US$5.0 billion) and an operating loss of₹220 billion (US$2.6 billion), and was seeking₹429 billion (US$5.1 billion) from the government.[32][33] A report by theComptroller and Auditor General blamed the decision to buy 111 new planes and the ill-timed merger with Indian Airlines for the poor financial situation.[34][35] In August 2011, the invitation to join Star Alliance was suspended as a result of its failure to meet the minimum standards for the membership.[36][37] The government pumped₹32 billion (US$380 million) into Air India in March 2012.[38][39]
On 1 March 2009, Air India madeFrankfurt Airport its international hub for onward connections to the United States from India. However, the airline shut down the Frankfurt hub on 30 October 2010 because of high operating costs.[40] In 2010, financially less lucrative routes were terminated and the airline planned to open a new hub for its international flights atDubai.[41] In 2012, a study commissioned by the Corporate Affairs Ministry recommended that Air India should be partly privatised.[42] In May 2012, the carrier invited offers from banks to raise $800 million viaexternal commercial borrowing andbridge financing.[43] In May 2012, the airline was fined $80,000 by the US Transportation Department for failing to post customer service and tarmac delay contingency plans on its website and adequately inform passengers about its optional fees.[44]
In 2013, the then-Civil Aviation MinisterAjit Singh stated privatisation was the key to the airline's survival.[45] However, the opposition led by theBJP and theCPI(M) slammed the government.[46] In 2013, the Indian government planned to delay equity infusion of₹300 billion (US$3.5 billion) that was slated to be infused into the airline slowly over eight years.[47] In January 2013, Air India cleared a part of its pending dues through funds raised by selling and leasing back the newly acquiredBoeing 787 Dreamliners.[48][49] In March 2013, the airline posted its first positiveEBITDA after almost six years and 20% growth in its operating revenue since the previous financial year.[50][51] Air India Limited split its engineering and cargo businesses into two separate subsidiaries, Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) and Air India Transport Services Limited (AITSL) in 2013.[52][53] In December 2013, the airline appointed veteran pilot SPS Puri as its head of operations. The appointment was criticised by the Air India pilots union as Puri allegedly has multiple violations to his name.[54]
Air India became the 27th member of Star Alliance on 11 July 2014.[55][56] In August 2015, it signed an agreement withCitibank andState Bank of India to raise $300 million in external commercial borrowing to meet working capital requirements.[57] ForFY 2014–15, its revenue, operating loss and net loss were₹198 billion (US$2.3 billion),₹2.171 billion (US$26 million) and₹5.41 billion (US$64 million) compared FY 2011–12, which were₹147 billion (US$1.7 billion),₹5.138 billion (US$61 million) and₹7.55 billion (US$89 million).[58] As of February 2016, Air India was the third largest carrier in India, afterIndiGo andJet Airways with a market share of 15.4%.[59][60][61][62]
On 21 May 2021, it was reported that Air India was subjected to a cyberattack where the personal details of about 4.5 million customers around the world were compromised, including passport, credit card details, birthdates, name and ticket information.[63][64][65] Air India's data processor,SITA, reported thedata breach to Air India in around February 2021.[64][66] The data breach involved all information which was registered in the SITA data processor between 26 August 2011 and 20 February 2021,[67][68][69] and the cyberattackers gained access to the systems for a period of 22 days.[70] Air India told passengers that there was no conclusive evidence on whether any misuse of the personal data had been reported[71] and urged passengers to immediately change their passwords.[72]
Post privatisation (2022–present)
On 28 June 2017, theGovernment of India approved theprivatisation of Air India and set up a committee to decide the details.[73] In March 2018, the Government issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to sell a 76% stake in Air India, along withlow-cost airlineAir India Express, and a 50% stake in AISATS, a ground handling joint venture withSingapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS). According to the EOI, the new owner would have to take on a debt of₹33,392 crore (US$3.9 billion) and a bid would have to be submitted by mid-May as the Government wanted to complete the selling process by the end of 2018.[74] However, no private firms showed any interest to buy a share in the debt-laden airline.[75]
Having failed to sell off a majority stake in the airline, the Government decided to completely exit the airline and invited fresh EOIs on 27 January 2020. In order to attract bidders this time, the government reduced the debt burden on Air India by moving nearly₹30,000 crore (US$3.5 billion) of the company's debts and liabilities to aSpecial Purpose Vehicle (SPV).[76][77] In view of the prevailing situation arising out ofCOVID-19, the last date for submission of interest was extended multiple times and the Government eventually received EOIs from seven parties by December 2020.[78] Five of these parties were disqualified and the Government invited financial bids for Air India from the two qualified parties in September 2021.[79]
In September 2021,Spice Jet'sAjay Singh-led consortium and Tata Sons submitted their financial bids for Air India.[80] On 8 October 2021, Air India along with its low cost carrierAir India Express and fifty per cent of AISATS, a ground handling company, were sold for₹18,000 crore (US$2.1 billion) toTata Group.[81][82] On 27 January 2022, the airline was officially handed over to Tata Group.[83] On 14 February 2022, after its re-privatisation, the airline appointedİlker Aycı, former chairman ofTurkish Airlines as its new CEO and managing director to take charge on or before 1 April 2022 which did not materialise.[84][85] In March 2022,Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons was appointed as the chairman of the airline and in May 2022,Campbell Wilson was announced as theCEO andMD.[86][87]
After the airline's acquisition, Tata Group began discussions on bringing the other airlines, includingVistara andAirAsia India, where it held a stake, under a unified umbrella. In November 2022, Air India acquiredAirAsia's stake in AirAsia India, renamed it AIX Connect and announced plans to merge it with Air India Express.[88] On 29 November 2022, Air India announced the merger with Vistara by March 2024 withSingapore Airlines which owns a 49% stake in Vistara getting a 25% stake in the newly formed airline.[89] Vistara brand would be discontinued post the merger and the brand will operate under the Air India name.[90][91] TheNational Company Law Tribunal approved the merger between Air India and Vistara on 6 June 2024, followed by Singapore Airlines' FDI approval by the Indian government on 30 August 2024.[92][93][94][95][96] On 12 November 2024, the merger between Vistara and Air India was completed.[97]
On 15 September 2022, the Tata Group announced Vihaan, a five-year transformation goal aimed at restructuring and transforming Air India in phases.[98][99][100] As part of the plan, Air India announced flights to additional international destinations.[101][102] The route expansion was supported by improving air-worthiness of existing fleet and leasing aircraft from other airlines.[103][104][105] On 14 February 2023, Air India announced an order for 470 aircraft consisting of 250 fromAirbus and 220 fromBoeing at a cost of US$70 billion, which set the record for the world's largest aircraft order at the time.[106] On 10 August 2023, the airline announced a rebranding exercise named "Vista" with a new livery and logo.[107][108] On 1 January 2024, Air India announced that it will begin operating its first Airbus A350 aircraft on domestic routes from 22 January 2024 before expanding to international destinations.[109]
As of July 2024, Air India is "consolidating its cargo operations" and plans to start a separate entity or a subsidiary likeAir India Cargo to handle cargo operations with dedicatedfreighters. There has been a 30% increase in the cargo revenues of the Air India Group in FY22-24. The cargo volume is expected to increase to 2.5 million tonnes by 2027. Air India is also developing a "mother software" to handle cargo data and revenue management. The airline is streamlining its cargo operations for optimisation of cargo handling. The airline has initiated a programme to "onboard, engage and expand with regional, national and global customers".[110]
In September 2024, Air India announced a $400 million refurbishment programme to modernise 67 of its older aircraft. The programme will commence with the overhaul of 27 narrow-bodyAirbus A320neo planes, followed by 40 wide-body Boeing aircraft.[111][112]
In October 2025, Air India was reported to be in advanced talks to acquire up to 300 additional aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, including 80–100 widebody models such as the Airbus A350 or Boeing 777X, as part of its fleet renewal and international expansion.[113]
Corporate affairs and identity
Business trends
The key trends of Air India are (as of the financial year ending 31 March[114]):
Air India Building in Mumbai served as Air India's headquarters until 2013
The Maharajah, Air India's mascot
Air India logo between 2007–2023
Some artworks exhibited at the Air India office inBudapest (Hungary) in 1970.
Air India Limited is headquartered inGurgaon,Haryana,[125] in Sector 16. Its head office is in 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of leased space on the ground floor and floors 1–6 in Block 5 in the Vatika One-on-One complex, and the lease began on 29 September 2023.[126] Air India Express, since 2024, occupies space in the same complex.[127]
Air India Express began operations on 29 April 2005 and was initially owned byAir India Charters and operates flights fromSouth India to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.[132][133] In November 2022, Air India acquiredAirAsia's stake in AirAsia India, renamed it into AIX Connect and announced plans to merge it with Air India Express.[134] On 1 October 2024, this merger was completed successfully.[135]
Air India became the first Asian airline to operate freighters whenAir India Cargo was set up in 1954 and started its freighter operations with aDouglas DC-3 aircraft.[16] Air India Cargo ended freighter aircraft operations in early 2012.[136]
Alliance Air was a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian Airlines established on 1 April 1996. It started operations on 21 June 1996. It was renamedAir India Regional after the merger between Air India and Indian Airlines.[137] It was renamed back to Alliance Air in 2017 and ceased being a subsidiary of Air India in April 2022 when the Government of India sold Air India to the Tata Group.[138]
Mascot
Air India's mascot istheMaharajah (high king).[139][140] It was created by Bobby Kooka, the then-commercial director of Air India, and Umesh Rao, an artist with J. Walter Thompson Limited in 1946.[141] Kooka stated that, "We call him a Maharajah for want of a better description. But his blood isn't blue. He may look like royalty, but he isn't royal".[142] Air India adopted the Maharajah as its mascot in 1946. It was used in promoting it although initially designed only for the airline's memo-pads.[143] The Maharajah was given a makeover in 2015 and the brand is represented by a younger version.[144] In 2023, the Maharajah was given a makeover and was revealed that the mascot would only be used in certain aspects of the airline like the premium lounges and crockery.[145]
Logo and livery
Air India's colour scheme is red and white. The aircraft was painted white with red palace-style carvings on the outside of the windows and the airline's name written in red. The name is written in Hindi on the port side fuselage and in English on the port side tail. On the starboard side, the name is written in English on the fuselage and in Hindi on the tail.[146] The window scheme was designed in line with the sloganYour Palace in the Sky.[16] The aircraft was earlier named after Indian kings and landmarks. In 1989, to supplement itsFlying Palace livery, Air India introduced a new livery that included a metallic gold spinning wheel on a deep red-coloured tail and a Boeing 747,Rajendra Chola, was the first aircraft to be painted in the new colours.[16]
Airbus A310 (registered VT-EJH) part of the now defunct Air India Cargo.
The first logo of Air India was acentaur, a stylised version ofSagittarius shooting an arrow in a circle representing thewheel of Konark. The logo chosen by founder J. R. D. Tata was introduced in 1948 and represented the airline until 2007.[147] On 22 May 2007, Air India and Indian Airlines unveiled their new livery consisting of a Flying Swan with the wheel of Konark placed inside it. The flying swan was morphed from the centaur logo, and the chakra was derived from Indian's erstwhile logo.[148] On 15 May 2007, Air India refreshed its livery, making the Rajasthani arches along the windows slightly smaller, extending a stylised line from the tail of the aircraft to the nose and painting the underbelly red. The new logo features on the tail and the engine covers with red and orange lines running parallel to each other from the front door to the rear door.[140]
After the airline's acquisition by the Tata Group, the airline revealed its brand new logo and livery on 10 August 2023.[149][150] The new livery features a palette of deep red, aubergine, and gold withchakra pattern and the new logo is inspired by the airline'sJharokha window pattern.[151] In December 2023, the airline unveiled new uniforms for its crew and rolled out its new identity with anAirbus A350-900, the first aircraft to be re-branded.[152][153][154]
Art collection
Air India maintained a collection of Indian art from 1956 comprising works of important Indian artists and photographers, sculptures, wood carvings, glass paintings, rare textiles etc.[155] The artworks were often sent to be hung in Air Indiabooking offices around the world and used in promotional material.[155] In 1967, the company commissioned ashtrays fromSalvador Dalí and gifted an elephant calf as payment.[156] In 2010, a plan to establish a museum from the collection was stalled and the artworks reside in a building in Nariman Point, Mumbai.[155] Air India organised the first ever exhibition of these art at theNational Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, titledAir India Salutes Indian Masters in 2013.[157] Following amemorandum of understanding agreed between the airline and theMinistry of Culture, the art collection was transferred to theNational Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Mumbai in January 2023.[158] The art was put up for exhibition titledMaharaja's Treasure: Select Works of Art from the Famed Air India Collection.[159][160]
In 1932, Air India started operations with a De Havilland Puss Moth. On 21 February 1960, Air India International inducted its firstBoeing 707-420C namedGauri Shankar (registeredVT-DJJ), thereby becoming the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft in its fleet.[17] In 1971, the airline took delivery of its firstBoeing 747-237B namedEmperor Ashoka (registeredVT-EBD)[19] In 1986, Air India took delivery of its firstAirbus A310-300.[16] On 4 August 1993, Air India took the delivery of its firstBoeing 747-437 namedKonark (registeredVT-ESM)[20][failed verification] In 1989, Indian Airlines introduced the Airbus A320-200 aircraft, which Air India now uses to operate both domestic and international short haul flights.[16] In 2005, Indian Airlines introduced the smaller A319, which is now used mainly on domestic and regional routes.[16] After the merger in 2007, Air India inducted the A321 to operate mainly on international short-haul routes and leased Airbus A330s to operate on medium-long-haul international routes. The airline's first Boeing 777-200LR aircraft was delivered on 26 July 2007, which was namedAndhra Pradesh.[citation needed] Air India received its first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on 9 October 2007 and the aircraft was named asBihar.[citation needed] Air India received its first Boeing 787 dreamliner aircraft on 6 September 2012 and commenced flights on 19 September 2012.[177]
As a part of the financial restructuring, Air India sold five of its eight Boeing 777-200LR aircraft toEtihad Airways in December 2013. According to the airline, plans for introducing ultra-long flights with service toSeattle,San Francisco andLos Angeles were cancelled due to factors like high fuel prices and weak demand.[182] In April 2014, the airline decided to sell its remaining three Boeing 777-200LRs as well, citing higher operating costs.[183] On 24 April 2014, Air India issued a tender for leasing 14Airbus A320 aircraft for up to six years, to strengthen its domestic network.[184] On 11 April 2024, Air India has sold four of its last remaining Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets US company AerSale. Two will be converted into freighters and two will be scrapped.[185] Air India is also planning to establish a dedicated subsidiary for cargo operations with dedicatedfreighters.[110]
New aircraft orders
Air India's first A350 alongside its future companion, theBoeing 777X that the airline has ordered in early 2023 during theParis Air Show.
On 14 February 2023, Air India announced an order for 470 aircraft with Airbus and Boeing consisting of 210A320neo family, 40A350, 190737 MAX, 20787-9, and 10777-9 aircraft for US$70 billion with deliveries beginning late 2023.[106]
On 10 December 2024, an additional order of 100 aircraft with Airbus was confirmed consisting of 90A320neo family aircraft and 10A350 aircraft.
TheBoeing 777-200LRs/777-300ERs that have operated with Air India since before its privatisation have a three-class configuration with first, business, and economy class.[187] These include the carrier's older, 2-3-2 business class cabins and 3-3-3 economy class cabins. Following privatisation, Air India began operating ex-Delta 777-200LRs on certain routes to North America, which allowed for the airline to introduce Premium Economy (using Delta's Premium Select product).[188] The introduction of ex-Etihad 777-300ERs on routes toLondon-Heathrow[citation needed] introduced a third product type within the carrier's fleet (though Premium Economy product is still limited to the ex-Delta 777s).
Air India'sBoeing 787 Dreamliners have a similar product to its older 777s but do not have first class, opting for a two-class configuration with a 2-2-2 business class and economy class.
In January 2024, the airline introduced its firstAirbus A350 on select domestic services.[189]
Within itsA320ceo fleet, which primarily serves domestic and regional international services, only business and economy class are offered,[190] with some aircraft, including newly deliveredA320/321neo aircraft having only economy class.[190]
In November 2024, the merger between Air India and Vistara was completed, and former Vistara aircraft now operate under Air India. With the merger, Air India customers can, in addition to Air India's own hard product, also experience Vistara's cabin, including its three-class 787-9 Dreamliners (as opposed to Air India's own two-class 787-8 Dreamliners).
In-flight entertainment
Air India's widebody fleet is equipped with seatback on-demand in-flight entertainment systems on which passengers can choose from available content. This varies from theThales i5000 on the 777-300ER, the Thales i8000 on the 787-8s, to thePanasonic eX3 on the A350-900, 777-200LR and 787-9.[191] The legacy 777 and 787 product will be replaced with Thales' Avant Up system. Thales will also line-fit further deliveries of the A350-900 and the 787-9 with the same system.[192] Air India does not offer seatback entertainment on its narrowbody fleet, with the exception of the A321LR, which uses Panasonic's eX1 system.[193] On its other narrowbodies, and as an interim solution on its legacy widebody fleet, Air India uses the Bluebox streaming IFE service.[194]Namaste.ai is the current in-flight magazine published in English by Air India.[195] It replacedShubh Yatra (meaningHappy Journey), which was a bilingual in-flight magazine published in English and Hindi.[196]
On-Board Wi-fi
On 1 January 2025, Air India announced that it rolled out free onboard WiFi on all flights operated by the carrier's A350, Boeing 787-9 and selected A321neo aircraft.[197] Other planes will get Wi-Fi connectivity after they go through a refurbishment. The carrier is the first airline in the nation to offer such complimentary service within India.[198]
Frequent flyer programme
Flying Returns was Air India'sfrequent-flyer programme. It was India's first frequent flyer programme and is shared by Air India and its subsidiaries. A member can earn mileage points and redeem them during future travel. On higher fares, passengers will earn bonus miles and clock mileage points.[199]
Following the merger of Air India and Vistara, Flying Returns and Club Vistara were combined and rebranded as Maharaja Club.[200][201][202]
Missions
As the flag carrier, Air India is often involved in the evacuation of civilians during wars. The airline entered theGuinness Book of World Records for the most people evacuated by a civil airliner.[203] Over 111,000 people were evacuated fromAmman toMumbai, a distance of 4,117 kilometres (2,558 mi), by operating 488 flights from 13 August to 11 October 1990 – lasting 59 days. The operation was carried out duringPersian Gulf War to evacuateIndian expatriates fromKuwait andIraq.[203][204][205][206]The event was later featured in the filmAirlift.[207]
In February–March 2011, Air India evacuated more than 15,000 Indian nationals during theLibyan civil war.[208] In March–April 2015, the airline was involved inOperation Raahat during theYemeni civil war.[208] In August 2021, Air India evacuated 669 people underOperation Devi Shakti from war-tornAfghanistan during the2021 Taliban offensive.[209] In February 2022, Air India evacuated Indian citizens fromRussia andUkraine as a part ofOperation Ganga during theRusso-Ukrainian War.[210] In October 2023, the airline evacuated people fromIsrael during theGaza war as a part ofOperation Ajay.[211]
Awards and recognitions
Preferred International Airline for travel and hospitality from Awaz Consumer Awards (2006)[212]
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative by Galileo Express Travel World[213]
Best Short-Haul International Airline by Galileo Express Travel World (2008)[213]
As of June 2025, Air India has been involved in eleven fatal crashes and twenty ground fatalities, two of which were caused by acts of terrorism.
Fatal
On 27 December 1947, aDouglas C-48C (registered VT-AUG) carrying nineteen passengers and four crew en route from Karachi to Bombay,crashed atKorangi Creek due to loss of control following instrument failure, killing all on board. This was the airline's first fatal accident. The aircraft had been notorious for electrical problems and had an unusual number of instrument replacements.[219]
On 13 December 1950, aDouglas C-47B (registered VT-CFK) carrying 17 passengers and four crew from Bombay toCoimbatore, crashed into high ground nearKotagiri due to a navigational error, killing all on board.[222]
On 15 September 1951, aDouglas C-47A (registered VT-CCA) lost control and crashed on takeoff fromHAL Bangalore Airport with the autopilot turned on, killing a crew member; all 23 passengers survived.[223]
On 9 May 1953, a Douglas C-47A (registered VT-AUD) crashed shortly after takeoff fromPalam Airport following a loss of control due to pilot error, killing all thirteen passengers and five crew on board.[224]
The Air India Memorial in Toronto, Ontario, Canada dedicated to the victims ofAir India Flight 182
On 24 January 1966,Air India Flight 101Kanchenjunga, aBoeing 707-420 (registered VT-DMN) carrying 117 people (106 passengers and 11 crew) crashed onMont Blanc, France killing all 117 on board including Indian scientistHomi J. Bhabha.[227] The cause of crash was controlled flight into the terrain, which was attributed to a navigational miscalculation by the pilots during while descending towardsGeneva Airport. This was the second Air India flight to crash at the same location in over 15 years afterFlight 245 in 1950 and the first hull loss of a jet aircraft for Air India.
On 1 January 1978,Air India Flight 855Emperor Ashoka, aBoeing 747-237B (registered VT-EBD) crashed into theArabian Sea post taking off from Bombay, killing all 190 passengers and 23 crew on board.[19] The cause of the crash was crew disorientation while dealing with a malfunctioning AI in the dark as the flight took off during the night time. The aircraft was the firstBoeing 747-200 delivered to Air India.
On 21 June 1982,Air India Flight 403Gouri Shankar, aBoeing 707-420C (registered VT-DJJ) carrying 99 passengers and 12 crew fromKuala Lumpur to Bombay via Madras crashed while landing at Sahar airport during a rainstorm. The fuselage broke apart, and seventeen people, including two crew members were killed. The cause of the crash was undershooting the runway due to flight crew error and miscalculation.[228][229]
On 23 June 1985,Air India Flight 182, aBoeing 747-237B (registered VT-EFO nicknamed Kanishka), was blown up in mid-air by a suitcase-bomb planted byBabbar Khalsa terrorists on the first leg of itsMontreal-London-Delhi-Bombay flight. The aircraft exploded off the coast ofCounty Cork, Ireland in theAtlantic Ocean, killing all 307 passengers and 22 crew on board.[230] It was the first mid-air bombing that brought down aBoeing 747 inflight, which was committed in retaliation for the1984 anti-Sikh riots, that was preceded by theAssassination of Indira Gandhi in October 1984. A second bomb was supposed to be planted on Air India Flight 301, anotherBoeing 747-200, but before it could be loaded onto the plane atTokyo-Narita, itexploded at the airport, killing 2 baggage handlers. Flight 182 was the second Air India plane lost to terrorism in 30 years after the bombing ofAir India Flight 300 in 1955.
On 17 December 2015, an Air India technician was killed in afreak accident at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai after being sucked into the engine of an Airbus A319 duringpushback when the co-pilot mistook a signal and started the engine.[231]
On 12 June 2025,Air India Flight 171, aBoeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registered VT-ANB) on theAhmedabad–London Gatwick route, crashed into the hostel building ofB. J. Medical College shortly after takeoff fromAhmedabad Airport. All but one of the 242 people on board were killed, as well as 19 people on the ground.[232] The sole survivor was a British national seated in 11A, next to an emergency exit. A preliminary report filed within a month of the crash stated that the cause was the twofuel control switches moving from their RUN to CUTOFF positions, causing both engines to immediately start losing thrust seconds after take-off.[233] Flight 171 marked the first fatal crash and hull loss of a Boeing 787, and the first fatal crash in 40 years for Air India afterflight 182 in June 1985.[234][235] As of August 2025, the investigation is ongoing.
Non-fatal
On 19 July 1959,Rani of Aera, aLockheed L-1049G Super Constellation (registered VT-DIN) carrying 46 people (39 passengers and seven crew) crashed on approach to Santacruz airport, Bombay in poor visibility conditions due to rain. There were no fatalities but the aircraft suffered damage beyond repair and was written off.[236]
On 23 January 1971, during a training flight for practice atSantacruz Airport in Bombay(now Mumbai), an Air IndiaBoeing 707-437 (registered VT-DJI), went off the runway to the right while performing a 3-engined takeoff, and no. 3 and 4 engines struck a mound 9 feet high located 188 feet from the edge of the runway and were torn off. The wing structure broke off progressively inward and an intense fire broke out. There were no casualties among the 5 crew members, but the 11 year old Boeing 707 was damaged beyond repair and written off.[237]
On 25 December 1974, Air India Flight 105, aBoeing 747-237B (registered VT-EBE), flying from Santacruz airport, Bombay toNew York JFK, with stops atBeirut,Rome, andParis was hijacked by a 31-year-old male passenger, while flying on the Beirut-Rome leg. The crew was able to subdue the hijacker, who was handed over to top Italian police officers after landing.[238]
On 29 August 1978, Air India Flight 123, aBoeing 747-237B (registered VT-EBO), flying fromDelhi toFrankfurt and carrying 377 passengers and crew, aborted take-off at 150 knots due to No. 3 engine failure. While the crew hit the brakes and deployed thrust reversers, the plane veered off the runway and entered soft ground, resulting in left-hand wing landing gear collapse and substantial damage, as No.3 and 4 reversers were not effective. The No. 3 engine failed due to ingestion of tire pieces. The plane sustained substantial damage but was repaired and put back into service.[239]
On 28 January 1983, Air India Flight 306Emperor Kanishka, aBoeing 747-200B (registered VT-EFO), collided with an Indian Airlines Airbus A300 after landing at Palam Airport, Delhi, with the plane suffering substantial damage. The plane was repaired and put back into service, but it was lost to the bombing ofFlight 182.[240]
On 2 June 1984, Air India Flight 315, aBoeing 747-200B (registered VT-EDU), flying fromBangkok to Delhi with 314 passengers and crew, suffered a No. 4 engine fire five minutes after takeoff. While the fire extinguishers were armed, the fire persisted, forcing the plane to dump fuel and return to Bangkok Don Mueang Airport. The fire was caused by a fuel leak on the left forward side of the engine near the air-to-fuel converter valve. The plane was later repaired and put back into service.[241]
On 7 May 1990, Air India Flight 132Emperor Vikramaditya, aBoeing 747-200B (registered VT-EBO) flying on the London-Delhi-Bombay route carrying 215 people (195 passengers and 20 crew) caught fire on touch down at Delhi airport due to a failure of an engine pylon-to-wing attachment. There were no fatalities, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and written off.[242]
On 17 June 1996, an Air IndiaBoeing 747-400 (registered as VT-ESM) was hit by a High Lift 'Skyliner' at London Heathrow when the aircraft was parked on Stand J2, after replenishing the galley for the next flight. The Skyliner struck the No. 1 hydraulic bay lower doors and then bounced forward and hit the No. 2 flap track fairing tail-cone. The aircraft sustained minor damage but was repaired and returned to service.[243]
On 20 January 1999, Air India Flight 121, aBoeing 747-400 (registered as VT-EVA), flying from Delhi toFrankfurt and carrying 336 passengers and crew, suffered a landing gear fire on its second attempt after a go-around, while damaging 22 lights of the approach lighting system and thelocaliser antenna for runway 7R due to short contact at the runway touchdown zone. The incident took place while the plane was attempting to land in low visibility caused by fog, coupled with a minor hydraulic pump malfunction in the hydraulic system number four. The plane suffered minor damage and was repaired and returned to service.[244]
On 30 July 2005, Air India Flight 127, aBoeing 747-400 (registered as VT-EVJ) on lease fromKorean Air, flying fromHAL Airport in Bengaluru toChicago with stops atMumbai andFrankfurt, skidded while landing at Mumbai on the wet runway 14/32 due to hydroplaning, and damaged the nose wheel landing gear after hitting a few runway lights. While there were no injuries, the plane, which was immobilised after being stuck at the end of runway 32, sustained substantial damage and was taken to an Air India hangar for repairs.[245][246] The incident took place 4 days after the airport was closed due toflooding in the Mumbai, and 2 days after reopening. An alternative Boeing 747-400 was arranged to continue the next legs of the flight, which took off after a delay of four hours.
On 19 December 2005, Air India Flight 136, aBoeing 747-400M (registered as VT-AIM) flying fromLos Angeles toDelhi viaFrankfurt, suffered a tire blowout after take-off from Los Angeles.[247] The plane dumped fuel and returned to Los Angeles after conducting an emergency landing. There were no injuries among 267 passengers and crew, however, a woman passenger was hospitalised after fainting on landing.[248]
On 16 May 2008, aBoeing 777-200 (registered as VT-AIK) on lease fromUnited Airlines operating as Air India Flight 717 toDubai collapsed atMumbai, after the nose landing gear failed. The incident took place before the passengers were about to board. There were no fatalities or injuries, however, the plane suffered serious damage and was taken off service for repairs.[249]
On 21 September 2008, Air India Flight 307, aBoeing 747-300M (registered VT-EPW nicknamed Shivaji), flying from Tokyo-Narita to Delhi carrying 168 passengers and 14 crew, shut down engine No. 3 after an abnormal indication in the instruments. The plane dumped fuel and landed at Tokyo-Narita after declaring emergency. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the nozzle guide vanes of the No. 3 engine LPT STG-2 separated and scattered after fracturing due to intergranular corrosion, and this caused the breakage of the nozzle guide vanes and turbine blades of the downstream stages and eventually damaged the engine.[250] The aircraft was repaired and returned to service, but it was withdrawn from use by the end of 2008 and stored.[citation needed]
On 4 September 2009, during the pre-takeoff phase at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, Air India Flight 829, aBoeing 747-400 (registered as VT-ESM), experienced an engine fire, which spread to the wing. As the damage caused by the fire was substantial by spreading to the wings and engine pylon, the plane was declared a total loss and 21 of the 229 individuals on board were injured while evacuating. The Boeing 747 was scrapped for parts in May 2011.[251] This particular 747 was the first 747-400 to enter Air India's fleet.
On 17 December 2009,Air India One, aBoeing 747-400 (registered as VT-EVA), operating as an executive flight forPrime MinisterManmohan Singh fromDelhi to Copenhagen, was hit by a food delivery trolley shortly before it was scheduled for takeoff. The Prime Minister took off on a substitute Boeing 747-400 aircraft after a delay of 3 hours.[252]
On 28 May 2012, Air India Flight 112, a Boeing 777-200LR (registered VT-ALH), suffered damage to the nose radar dome and left engine cowling on landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai following a flight from London Heathrow. The cause of the damage could not be determined, but the aircraft was withdrawn from service to be repaired. The Boeing 777 returned to service in January 2015 after repairs and test flights were completed.[253][254]
On 5 January 2014, Air India Flight 890, anAirbus A320 (registered VT-ESH), flying fromImphal toDelhi viaGuwahati was diverted to Jaipur Airport due to heavy fog in Delhi. The rear tire of the plane burst during landing, damaging the right wing. While there were no fatalities among 173 passengers and 6 crew, the 20-year-old Airbus suffered severe damage and was written off.[255][256]
On 30 January 2014, Air India Flight 116, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (registered VT-ANE) flying fromMumbai toDelhi with 236 occupants, had a near-miss on take-off with a Sesa Goa Partenavia P68C aircraft (registered VT-TLE) that took from runway 26 ofJuhu Aerodrome. The incident was caused by an ATC instruction error.[257]
On 2 February 2014, Air India Flight 191, aBoeing 777-300ER (registered VT-ALQ), flying fromNewark toMumbai, blew three tires after touching down on runway 27. There were no injuries among the 260 passengers and crew, and the place was able to taxi to the gate with assistance.[258]
On 23 February 2016, Air India Flight 191, aBoeing 777-300ER (registered VT-ALJ), knocked a light pole down atMumbai during taxiing towards Terminal 2 after arriving fromAhmedabad, causing damage to the right wing. The ATC had erroneously cleared the pilots to use an incorrect taxiway which was not meant for widebody aircraft. A replacement plane was then used to continue the next leg of the flight toNewark.[259]
On 10 November 2016, Air India Flights 142 from Paris and 154 from Vienna, bothBoeing 787-8 Dreamliners heading toDelhi, were nearly involved in a midair collision 12 nautical miles away from the airport, due to conflicting instructions from TCAS and ATC. The incident prompted aDGCA andAAIB investigation, which concluded that the breach of separation between the two aircraft occurred due to incorrect label management, wrong separation technique for sequencing of arrival aircraft and inadequate surveillance.[260]
On 11 September 2018, Air India Flight 101, aBoeing 777-300ER (registered VT-ALQ), operating from New Delhi to New York JFK airport, suffered multiple instrument failures and was unable to perform an ILS approach into any airport. Because of bad weather, the flight had to hold, resulting in a critical low-fuel situation as well. The flight was able to divert to Newark, where it landed safely.[261]
On 29 January 2019, Air India Flight 541, anAirbus A321-200 (registered VT-PPN), flying from Tirupati to Hyderabad, suffered damage to the fuselage and the horizontal stabiliser on take-off due to foreign object damage caused by runway material.[262] The aircraft landed in Hyderabad without any injuries on board, however, the aircraft was withdrawn from service following the accident and was transferred to NACIN in October 2023.[263]
On 14 June 2025, Air India Flight 187, aBoeing 777-300ER (registration VT-ALJ), flying fromDelhi toVienna made a sudden drop of 900 feet after encountering turbulence and severe weather, prompting the pilots to deploy safety measures, as the crew received numerous Stall and Terrain warnings. The pilots continued the flight after regaining control, however, the incident prompted an investigation by theDGCA.[264] The incident took place less than 48 hours afterAir India Flight 171, aBoeing 787-8 Dreamliner which crashed around 30 seconds after take-off fromAhmedabad, with only one passenger as the only survivor among the 242 passengers and crew.[265]
On 21 July 2025, Air India Flight 2744, an Airbus A320-251N (registration VT-TYA), flying from Kochi to Mumbai experienced runway excursion after touchdown at 09:27 AM during heavy rainfall at Runway 09/27,Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The aircraft suffered minor damages on the engine along with bursting of three tyres. The runway was also minorly damaged which lead to secondary runway being used for the incoming flights. The aircraft was then grounded for repairs and inspection.[266][267]
^"Corporate Information". Air India.Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved30 July 2024.Registered Office Address: Block-4, Vatika One on One, Sector-16, NH-48 Industrial Estate, Gurugram HR 122007 INDIA
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