Some Facts About Indian Airlines

Indian Airlines, a premier airline in India, operates primarily on domestic routes from its base in Mumbai, with a limited number of international services to neighboring Asian countries. The state-owned airline, under the administration of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, serves as one of India’s flag carriers alongside Air India. It was established following the enactment of the Air Corporations Act in 1953, emerging from a merger of several former independent airlines, and was renamed ‘Indian’ on December 7th, 2005. Initially equipped with approximately 99 aircraft, Indian Airlines commenced its jet era in 1964 with the introduction of Caravelle aircraft and later added a Boeing 737-200 in the early 1970s. Presently, the fleet comprises around 70 aircraft, including Airbus A300, Airbus A319, Airbus A320, and an ATR-4.

Indian Airlines boasts a comprehensive route network encompassing both domestic and foreign destinations. Notably, it was the first to introduce wide-bodied A300 aircraft in the domestic circuit. The airline’s route map covers a total of 76 exclusive destinations, with 58 within India and 18 abroad, including countries such as Kuwait, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Thailand, and several other Southeast Asian countries. Despite its extensive reach, Indian Airlines offers competitive fares to its passengers.

The airline’s hubs are strategically located in the major metros of India, namely Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, Chennai International Airport in Chennai, and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. This ensures widespread connectivity even to remote cities across the country. The airline’s staff, both in-flight and on the ground, are known for their hospitality, greeting passengers with warm smiles and providing patient assistance whenever needed. They are knowledgeable and adept at handling passenger queries and issues effectively.