October 8, 2021 was a great day for Tata Group, as home grown Airline returned to their origin - homecoming for Air India! Acquisition of Air India, Air India Express, and 50% of AISATS by Tata Group was India's first major privatization of a public sector company.
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata (29-07-1904 to 29-11-1993) was the pioneer of Indian aviation. He was also India’s first commercial pilot license-holder. In 1932 JRD Tata founded Tata Air Services for transporting mails. On the maiden flight he flew with cargo from Bombay to Karachi on a de Havilland Puss Moth.
Soon it grew quickly to enter into passenger service.
In 1938 it was rebranded as Tata Airlines and started international flights. First international destination was Colombo, Srilanka.
1953: Government of India formed two companies out of Air India - Air India took over international routes, while new entity Indian Airlines got the domestic and regional route.
In 1962 Tata Airlines became world's first airline with a full jet-engine fleet.
In 1971 Tata Airlines introduced luxury travel with 'The Palace in the Sky' on a Boeing 747.
1981: Indian Airlines and Air India jointly founded Vayudoot Airlines mainly to serve Northeast India and also to smaller cities. It used several turboprop airliners - HS 748 (made by British company Avro, later acquired by Hawker Siddeley), Dornier 228 (made by German company Dornier GmbH), Fokker F27 (made by Dutch company Fokker).
In 1993 Air India started first nonstop flight between New York and Delhi.
05/2004: Air India launched a wholly owned low cost subsidiary called Air-India Express connecting cities in India with the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
2013: As Indian government allowed foreign investment in aviation sector, Malaysia based multinational low-cost airline Air Asia entered in India with a JV with Tata Group. It was founded on 28th March, 2013 and started commercial flights from 12th June 2014 onwards. Despite Tata Sons' backup, Air Asia India fails in a market where low-cost Airline IndiGo dominates. There were several issues with Air Asia India like control from Malaysia, failure from CEO side, choosing Chennai as initial hub.
07/2014: Air India became the 27th member of Star Alliance.
12/2020: Tata Sons acquired 32.67% stake of Air Asia India from AirAsia Berhad.
10/2021: Maharaja returns home! Tata Sons's unit, Talace Pvt. Ltd won the bid to acquire 100% of Air India and AI Express and 50% of AISATS (remaining hold by SATS Ltd).
27th Jan 2022: Officially Maharaja returns home! Tata got control of AI, AI Express and 50% of AISATS.
04/2022: Tata Group requested approval from CCI to merge AirAsia India with Air India, which got approval on 14th June 2022.
11/2022: AirAsia Berhad sold remaining 16.33% stake to Tata Sons.
12/2022: AirAsia India was rebranded to AIX Connect.
05/2023: Vistara flew a Boeing 787-9 aircraft between Delhi and Mumbai with 17% sustainable aviation fuel and 83% jet fuel, which cut down CO2 emissions by 4500kg - that was India's first commercial flight with sustainable aviation fuel.
08/2023: Air India got new logo and livery as a part of rebranding initiative.
10/2023: Air India Express was rebranded and relaunched as LCC with new logo, promising a fresh, vibrant and visually engaging airline targeting India's budget-friendly aviation market.
10/2024: DGCA approved the merger of AIX Connect with Air India Express. https://www.airindiaexpress.com
12/11/2024 : Vistara is merged with Air India. Club Vistara and Flying Returns of Air India will be merged into Maharaja Club, a brand new loyalty program for the merged airline. W.e.f 12th November customers' profile will be merged on Maharaja Club.
As Vistara merges with Air India w.e.f. 12.11.2024, the Vistara passengers are requested to download Air India app for seamless experience.
No comments:
Post a Comment