Air India Limited

Air India Limited, operating under the IATA code AI and ICAO code AIC, stands as the flag carrier of India and a prominent member of the Star Alliance network. Founded on 15 October 1932 by the legendary industrialist J. R. D. Tata as Tata Airlines, the airline initially began as a mail carrier before evolving into a full-fledged passenger service. In 1946, it was renamed Air India, and following India’s independence in 1947, it was partially nationalised in 1953, with the government taking a majority stake. For decades, Air India operated as a state-owned enterprise, but in a historic move, the Tata Group reacquired the airline in January 2022, returning it to private ownership. This transition marked a pivotal moment in the carrier’s history, bringing renewed strategic vision and operational restructuring. The airline is now managed by Tata Sons, with the aim of restoring its former glory and enhancing competitiveness in the global aviation market.

The fleet composition of Air India has undergone significant modernisation, particularly after the Tata takeover. As of 2025, the airline operates a diverse mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft to serve both long-haul and short-haul markets. Key types include the Boeing 777-200LR, 777-300ER, and the ultra-long-range Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners, alongside the flagship Airbus A350-900 (with additional orders for A350-1000 variants). For domestic and regional services, the carrier utilises Airbus A320 family aircraft, including the A320neo and A321neo, as well as the older A319 and A320ceo models. Air India has also placed substantial orders for new-generation aircraft, including hundreds of Airbus A320neo family jets and Boeing 737 MAX types (for its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express), as well as wide-body orders for the Boeing 777X and additional A350s. This modernisation drive reflects the airline’s ambition to fuel expansion, improve fuel efficiency, and enhance passenger comfort.

Air India’s primary hub and home base is Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, which serves as the nerve centre for its domestic and international network. The airline also maintains a secondary hub at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai, with significant operations from other major cities such as Chennai (MAA), Bengaluru (BLR), Kolkata (CCU), and Hyderabad (HYD). As a full-service flag carrier, Air India offers premium cabins including First Class (on select aircraft), Business Class, Premium Economy (being introduced across the fleet), and Economy Class, with a focus on in-flight entertainment, catering, and ground services. The airline also operates a dedicated cargo division, Air India Cargo, leveraging its wide-body fleet to transport freight. While primarily a full-service carrier, Air India also has a low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express (AIX), which operates on short-haul and regional sectors, although the mainline remains a premium carrier.

A notable milestone in Air India’s history is its role as a founding member of the Star Alliance, which it joined in July 2014 after a lengthy process to meet global service standards. This membership provides passengers with seamless connectivity and reciprocal benefits across the alliance’s extensive network of over 1,200 destinations worldwide. Over the decades, Air India has earned numerous accolades, including being the first Asian airline to induct the Boeing 747 into its fleet (in 1971) and the first to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in South Asia. However, the airline also faced challenges, including financial losses and operational inefficiencies under state ownership, which the Tata Group has been actively addressing through fleet renewal, digital transformation, and improved customer service. In 2024, Air India launched a comprehensive brand refresh and introduced a new livery, signaling its resurgence. With a robust order book and a renewed focus on operational excellence, Air India is poised to reclaim its position as a leading global carrier while honouring its rich heritage as India’s aviation ambassador.