Milestones in Indian Aviation

Milestones of Indian Aviation: 1911 - 2007

1911

 

A Roger Sommer biplane, piloted by Henri Pecquet and carrying some 6,000 envelopes and cards, flew from Allahabad to Naini on 18 February 1911, and this marked the  world’s very first airmail and the beginning of aviation in India.

1932

In 1932, Tata Aviation Service, the forerunner to Tata Airlines and Air India, took to the skies. The first flight lifted off from Drigh Road in Karachi with J.R.D. Tata at the controls of a Puss Moth.

The Tata Airline was conceived by a former officer of the Royal Airforce called Nevill Vincent. It was he who offered J. R. D. Tata a project to start an airline.  The initial investment was small — Indian Rupees 200,000.

The early 1930s were adventurous days, with no navigational or landing aids whatsoever, on the ground or in the air, and no radio. A mud flat at Juhu served as an aerodrome at Bombay, and there were two single-engine planes, a Puss Moth and a Leopard Moth, one full time pilot and two apprentice mechanics.

1933

In 1933, the first full year of its operations, Tata Airlines flew 160,000 miles, carried 155 passengers and 10.71 tonnes of mail. In the next few years, Tata Airlines’ revenues continued to rely on the mail contract with the Government of India for carriage of surcharged mail, including a considerable quantity of overseas mail brought to Karachi by Imperial Airways for destinations in India. In the same year, Tata Airlines was followed on the Indian Transport scene by Indian National Airways, a company based at Delhi and formed with the dual purpose of operating services of its own and participating, along with the Government of India, as one of two minority shareholders in Indian Trans-Continental Airways. INA began operations of its mail and freight service between Calcutta and Rangoon, and between Calcutta and Dacca (nowBangladesh), with a De Havilland Dragon Aircraft.      

1937

A third Airline, Air Services of India, started in 1937 and began to operate passenger services between Bombay and some of the Indian states in Kathiawar, and between Bombay andKolhapur,  to the south-east. Its fleet consisted of DeHavilland Fox Moths, Percival Gulls and D.H.Dragons. In the meantime, Tata Airlines and Indian National Airways made steady progress.

1946

Civil aviation in India was restored to commercial status on 01 January 1946.        

In 1946, Tata Airlines, a Division of Tata Sons, became a joint stock company called Air Indiaand, two years later at J.R.D Tata’s suggestion, Air India International was launched as India’s first joint undertaking between the Government and private enterprise. In the chaotic and grave picture of the post-war history of Indian transport, the only bright spot was the creation and solid success of Air India International.

1953

 

In March 1953 India’s parliament passed the Air Corporations Act. The main provisions of the Act were that ‘there shall be two corporations to be known as Indian Airlines and Air India International'.

 

Nationalisation opened a new chapter in the airline's history, which was marked by the expansion of its fleet and routes. By the mid-fifties, Air India had replaced its fleet of Constellations with the larger, faster and more modern Super Constellations. New destinations were added – Singapore and Hong Kong in 1954, Tokyo in 1955, Sydney in 1956 and Moscowin 1958.

 

The jet age was already looming on the horizon and heralded revolutionary changes in the air transport industry. Air India was keeping a sharp eye on the latest developments and decided to order the Boeing 707 in the late fifties.

 

1960

 

The first Boeing 707 was received in February 1960. This marked the airline’s entry into the jet age.

 

1991

 

Air India and Indian Airlines enjoyed monopoly power in the industry until 1991, when private airlines were given permission to operate charter and non scheduled services under the 'Air Taxi' scheme, to boost tourism.

 

1994

 

In 1994, following the repeal of the Air Corporation Act, private players were permitted to operate scheduled services.  As a result, a number of private players including Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Modiluft, Damania Airways, NEPC airlines and East West Airlines commenced domestic operations.

 

1995

In 1995 India's six private airlines accounted for more than 10 percent of domestic air traffic. Both the number of carriers and their market share were expected to rise in the mid-1990s. The four major private airlines were East West Airlines, Jagsons Airlines, Continental Aviation, and Damania Airways.

In addition to the Indian-owned airlines, many foreign airlines provide international service. In 1995, forty-two airlines operated air services to, from, and through India.

2003

 

In late 2003, the Indian aviation sector witnessed the emergence of India’s first low cost carrier, Air Deccan. It revolutionized the Industry, offering fares for as low as Indian Rupees 500, compared with full service fares offered by other carriers, averaging about Indian Rupees 3,000 or more.

 

2004

 

In December 2004, Indian scheduled carriers with a minimum of 5 years of continuous operations and a minimum fleet size of 20 aircraft, were permitted to operate scheduled services to internationals destinations.

 

2005

 

Since then, several other low cost airlines have entered the Indian skies: Spice Jet (restructured Royal Airways and Modiluft), Go Air, Indigo and Paramount Airways.  The Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines commenced operations in 2005, with a brand new fleet of aircraft offering Full Service at true value and promising an unparalleled experience to the Indian air traveller.

On January 11, 2005 the government designated four scheduled Indian carriers - Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara - to operate international services to and fromSingapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, the UK and the USA.

2006

The modernisation of Indian airports takes off….

In January 2006, the consortium led by the GVK Group, and comprising Airports Company South Africa and Bidvest, was awarded the mandate to modernise India's busiest airport, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) at Mumbai.

2007

The GMR led consortium for the modernisation of Delhi International Airport (Pvt) Ltd. (DIAL), welcomed the landmark judgment passed by the Honourable Supreme Court, upholding the Delhi High Court’s decision on award of the Delhi and Mumbai airports.

 

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