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| Air-India flies into platinum jubilee year | | |
Mumbai, Oct 15: Pioneer aviator JRD Tata launched what is now known as Air-India in 1932 to end the British monopoly on the Indian skies, but as the flag carrier enters its platinum jubilee year today it faces a familiar challenge to its dominance of the heavens.
Official celebrations were launched here to mark the 75th anniversary of Air-India, in the backdrop of a government proposal to merge the carrier with another state-controlled airline Indian to create a monolith airliner.
But the irony is not lost on the government, which seems to be keen on making the airline started by Tata bigger and better. Tata also piloted the first flight carrying air mail from Karachi's Drigh road aerodrome to Bombay's Juhu airstrip on a single-engine puss moth.
The history of Indian aviation starts with Air-India. "Not many airlines in the world have got such a long history. This is a time when the airlines across the world are facing big challenges. The history of Air-India is the history of Indian Civil Aviation as well," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said.
But with domestic private carriers being allowed to fly overseas since 2005, ending Air-India's near monopoly on flights out of India, officials hope that the proposed merger would strengthen the airline.
The carrier's monopoly was first threatened when the government allowed private carriers in the 1990s and subsequently announced the open sky policy. It was further pushed to a corner by rising jet fuel prices.
"Costs continue to be a big challenge. All airlines registered a decline in profitability. But last two years, we could make profits though it was marginal," Air-India chairman and Managing Director Vasudevan Tulasidas said.
But costs notwithstanding, the airline has ordered 68 new aircraft from Boeing Co to replenish its ageing fleet.
The airline has also withered devastating accidents including the crash of flight 855 into the Arabian Sea in 1978 and the Kanishka bombing in 1985. Not surprisingly, it has dedicated this year to the service of its passengers.
"We are dedicating this year to the air-travellers. We are renewing our fleet and as a gift, we will be bringing in a non-stop flight between India and the United States," he said, adding that the airline was picking up and equipping itself to face challenges.
The airline is undergoing a rapid transformation from a state-owned entity to a professional airline which will provide state-of-the-art facilities to the passengers, Tulasidas said.
"The merger will strengthen the airline. Competition is a challenge but also an opportunity. Renovation of the fleet and introduction of new service is absolutely essential and for the survival merger is a must. It will form a strong new airline, which would be the biggest in Asia and one of the biggest in the world," he said.
The airline had earlier this year appointed a consultant, accenture, to prepare the roadmap for the merger expected to happen this fiscal.
As part of the year-long celebrations, the airline would unveil a new emblem, showcase its history, besides launch a non-stop India-US service.
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