AFP image
Mumbai:
The airline founded in 1932, was the pride and joy of JRD Tata. The airline has come a long way since then to the state that it finds itself in now.
On October 15, 1932 Air India's earlier avatar made its historic maiden flight.
A single-engine Puss Moth, carrying air mail from Karachi to Bombay, Tata Airlines was 28-year-old JRD's baby -- India's first carrier.
Almost a decade later in 1946, the airline had become a public company, now renamed Air India Limited. It had also started flying international.
During the 1950s new airlines were launching the world over with war-surplus planes posing stiff competition.
India had to take drastic steps to improve Air-India. Now the domestic and international operations were separate.
"Their reputation was impeccable. They were the pride of India. We were so enamored and overwhelmed by Air India," said Prahlad Kakkar, Adman.
In early 1970 -- after two decades of smooth run the downturn hit world economy.
In 1974, adding fuel to fire Air India pilots went on a strike protesting against longer working hours.
They lost the battle in court but their legacy of strikes and unionization would continue to bleed the airlines.
June 1985 turned out to be its darkest moments:
Its Toronto-Bombay flight Kanishka exploded by terrorists mid-air killing 329 passengers aboard. The effect was severe.
In 1987 Rajan Jetley came in as the turnaround chairman, pulling Air India out of the red for a brief period.
During 1990s, after he left unwise aircraft purchases and mismanagement dragged it back into economic air pockets.
"One day, 10-15 years ago I had a horrific experience while coming back from Bangkok. It was terrible. The seats were bad, the music system didn't work. And the crew couldn't care less. So, I wrote a complaint to Air India and I told them: not only will I never fly with you again, but I will never work for you again," Kakkar further said.
2007: This decade saw Air India and Indian Airlines to put up a lean and mean fight against the competition.
By then private airlines had already cut into its market share at home and abroad, it had lagged far behind world-class carriers.
"I felt great about Air India earlier. But then it didn't change with the times. Hence the deterioration," said an air traveler.
For Air India, it's been a free fall over the years. Its reputation has nose-dived. Its coffers are empty. The employees unhappy. Once an iconic brand, today it's on the brink of oblivion.
On October 15, 1932 Air India's earlier avatar made its historic maiden flight.
A single-engine Puss Moth, carrying air mail from Karachi to Bombay, Tata Airlines was 28-year-old JRD's baby -- India's first carrier.
Almost a decade later in 1946, the airline had become a public company, now renamed Air India Limited. It had also started flying international.
During the 1950s new airlines were launching the world over with war-surplus planes posing stiff competition.
India had to take drastic steps to improve Air-India. Now the domestic and international operations were separate.
"Their reputation was impeccable. They were the pride of India. We were so enamored and overwhelmed by Air India," said Prahlad Kakkar, Adman.
In early 1970 -- after two decades of smooth run the downturn hit world economy.
In 1974, adding fuel to fire Air India pilots went on a strike protesting against longer working hours.
They lost the battle in court but their legacy of strikes and unionization would continue to bleed the airlines.
June 1985 turned out to be its darkest moments:
Its Toronto-Bombay flight Kanishka exploded by terrorists mid-air killing 329 passengers aboard. The effect was severe.
In 1987 Rajan Jetley came in as the turnaround chairman, pulling Air India out of the red for a brief period.
During 1990s, after he left unwise aircraft purchases and mismanagement dragged it back into economic air pockets.
"One day, 10-15 years ago I had a horrific experience while coming back from Bangkok. It was terrible. The seats were bad, the music system didn't work. And the crew couldn't care less. So, I wrote a complaint to Air India and I told them: not only will I never fly with you again, but I will never work for you again," Kakkar further said.
2007: This decade saw Air India and Indian Airlines to put up a lean and mean fight against the competition.
By then private airlines had already cut into its market share at home and abroad, it had lagged far behind world-class carriers.
"I felt great about Air India earlier. But then it didn't change with the times. Hence the deterioration," said an air traveler.
For Air India, it's been a free fall over the years. Its reputation has nose-dived. Its coffers are empty. The employees unhappy. Once an iconic brand, today it's on the brink of oblivion.
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