Indian Airlines: Encyclopedia II - Indian Airlines - History

Indian Airlines - History

The airline was set up on June 15, 1953 and started operations on 1 August 1953. It was established after legislation came into force to nationalise the entire airline industry in India. Two new national airlines were to be formed along the same lines as happened in the United Kingdom with BOAC and BEA. Air India took over international routes and Indian Corporation took over the domestic and regional routes.

Eight former independent domestic airlines: Deccan Airways, Airways-India, Bharat Airways, Himalayan Aviation, Kalinga Air Lines, Indian National Airways, Air India, Air Services of India, were merged to form the new domestic national carrier. Indian Corporation inherited a large fleet of 74 Douglas DC-3 Dakotas, 12 Vickers Vikings, 3 Douglas DC-4s and various smaller types from the 8 airlines that made it up. Vickers Viscounts were introduced in 1957 with Fokker F-27 Friendships being delivered from 1961.

The jet age began for IAC with the introduction of the pure-jet Sud Aviation Caravelle airliner in 1964. The 1960s also saw Hawker Siddeley 748s, manufactured in India. In the 1970s, Airbus A300 wide-body jets were introduced. Boeing 737-200s were also used. By 1990, Airbus A320s were in use.

The airline is about to undergo restructuring of its organisation, management and finances, with a view to issuing an initial public offering in 2006. It has recently been renamed to 'indian'. The airlines new logo is said to be contemporary graphic representation wheel of Sun temple in Konark.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki