| Air India is the flag carrier of India and easily the | | | | By the coming of 1953, the situation had changed |
| most well known airlines from the region all over the | | | | and the Government of India exercised its right to |
| world. It has been so popular in part due to the fact | | | | acquire the two more percent of Air India stock. The |
| that its mascot, the Maharaja has become one of | | | | company was thus nationalized after the passage of |
| the best and most popular airlines mascots all over | | | | Air Corporations Act in the same year. Within one |
| the world. The main hubs of Air India are at the | | | | year, all the domestic operations of Air India were |
| Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and at the | | | | transferred to the Indian Airlines. In 1960, Air India |
| Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport (formerly the | | | | entered the Jet Age when it acquired the first Boeing |
| Sahar International Airport) in Mumbai. The airline is a | | | | 707 420 which was named Gauri Shankar and |
| full service carrier which also moves cargo. Air India | | | | registered as VT-DJJ. First jet services were to New |
| also maintains an international hub at Frankfurt and | | | | York city via London. Within 2 years (by 1962) Air |
| London is the focus city for it operations. | | | | India became the first all jet airlines of the world. |
| Air India was started as Tata Airlines in 1932 but had | | | | In 2005 the company jumped on the low frills airlines |
| to cease operations during the Second World War. | | | | bandwagon with Air India Express, it own low frills |
| Following the end of the war, the company restarted | | | | version. Currently Air India Express has almost one |
| it services in 1946. It became a public limited country | | | | hundred flights in an given week, most of which are |
| and the name was changed to Air India. Following the | | | | from Kerala and other southern states of India. Air |
| independence of the country, the Government of | | | | India Express has 17 operational Boeing 737-800 |
| India purchased 49% of the stock and kept the | | | | planes and another four planes in dry lease. |
| option to purchase 2% more of the Air India stock | | | | In 2007, Air India was merged with Indian Airlines to |
| at any time it needed. In return. Air India was given | | | | form the National Aviation Corporation of India |
| the ability to operate as India's flag carrier and | | | | Limited which will maintain the Air India brand. |
| undertake international flying operations. | | | | |