No, Air India is not a government company. It is India’s premier flagship air carrier, which operates under Airline India Limited, a company owned by the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines. Founded in the year 1932 by the industrialist J.R.D. Tata, Air India was nationalised by the Government of India in the year 1953. However, it was sold back to the Tata Group by the Government of India in the year 2022.

Air India is currently the second-largest airline in India after Indigo, in terms of passengers carried. It operates a mix of domestic and international flights. The airline’s main hub is the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Here is a quick overview of Air India.

Company History

Air India traces its origins to Tata Airlines, founded by industrialist J.R.D Tata of the Tata Group in October 1932. It began as a division of Tata Sons, operating air mail services with a single-engine de Havilland Puss Moth. The inaugural flight carried air mail from Karachi to Mumbai and onwards to Chennai.

On 29^th July 1946, Tata Airlines became a public limited company and was renamed Air India. The company launched its international service with a maiden flight of Lockheed Constellations L-749 A from Mumbai to London on 8^th June 1948. In the year 1953, the Government of India acquired Air India under the Air Corporations Act.

Air India became the first Asian airline to induct a jet passenger aircraft in the year 1960. In the year 1962, it became the world’s first airline with a full jet engine fleet. Air India introduced luxury air travel in 1971 with “Palace in the Sky” on Boeing 747s. The airline launched its first non-stop flight from Delhi to New York in 1993.

The Government of India sold 100% stakes in Air India to Tata Group in October 2021. Tata Group took over the airline in January 2022.

Current Status

Air India is currently operating a fleet of around 189 narrow and wide-bodied Airbus and Boeing aircrafts that fly both passengers and cargo. The fleet features a mix of models, such as A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, B787-8, B787-9, B777-200LR and more.

Air India currently serves 87 destinations, comprising of 42 domestic and 45 international destinations in 37 countries across 5 continents. The airlines is currently undergoing cabin upgrades under a $400 million legacy fleet retrofit program.

Future Outlook

Air India aims to capture 30% of the domestic civil aviation share and a stronger international long-haul presence. Its Vihaan.AI transformation program aims to make the airline profitable by 2027. Air India seeks to modernise around 60% of its fleet by the end of 2026.