Early years (1932–1945)

Air India had its origin as Tata Air Services later renamed to Tata Airlines founded by J. R. D. Tata of Tata Sons, an Indian aviator, and business tycoon. April 1932, Tata won a contract to carry mail for Imperial Airways and the aviation department of Tata Sons was formed with two single engine de Havilland PussMoths. On 15 October 1932, Tata flew a Puss Moth carrying air mail from Karachi to Bombay (currently Mumbai) and the aircraft continued to Madras (currently Chennai). The airline fleet consisted of a Puss Moth aircraft and a de HavillandLeopard Moth. Initial service included weekly airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Ahmedabad and Bombay.

As Tata Airlines

The airline launched its first domestic flight from Bombay to Trivandrum with a six-seater Miles Merlin.In1938, it was re-christened as Tata Air Services and later as Tata Airlines. Colombo in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Delhi were added to the destinations in 1938. During the Second World War, the airline helped the Royal Air Force with troop movements, shipping of supplies, the rescue of refugees, and maintenance of aircraft.

Post-Independence(1947–2000)After World War II, regular commercial service was restored in India, and Tata Airlines became a public limited company on 29 July 1946 under the name Air India. After Indian independence in1947, 49% of the airline was acquired by the Government of India in1948.On 8 June 1948, a Lockheed Constellation L-749A named Malabar Princess took off from Bombay bound for London Heathrow marking the airline's first international flight.

The airline also provides ground handling, engineering & maintenance services, as well as low-cost travel options, through its subsidiaries.

In 1932, Air India started operations with a de Havilland Puss Moth. It inducted its first Boeing 707-420 named Gauri Shankar thereby becoming the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft in its fleet.

Apart from the Boeing aircraft, Air India also operates a wide range of Airbus aircraft. In 1989, Indian Airlines introduced the Airbus A320-200 aircraft, which Air India now uses to operate both domestic and international short-haul flights. In 2005, Indian Airlines introduced smaller A319s, which are now used mainly on domestic and regional routes. After the merger in 2007, Air India inducted the biggest member of the A320 family, the A321, to operate mainly on international short-haul and medium-haul routes. At the same time, Air India leased Airbus A330s to operate on medium-long haul international routes. Currently, Air India has many narrow-body aircraft for domestic destinations like A320, A321, and A320 neo. Air India has also many wide-body aircraft like Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 747-400, and Boeing 787-8 mainly for international destinations.

Constantly adapting and re-inventing itself to stay ahead of the competition, and with the recent change in management Air India has been and will continue to be committed to providing superior service, supported by the latest technology, to flyers worldwide.

Re-privatisation

In September 2021, government-issued fresh tenders for selling the airlines, where Spice Jet's Ajay Singh-led consortium and Tata Sons showed interest in the bid. Finally, on 8 October 2021, Air India, along with its low-cost carrier Air India Express and fifty percent of AISATS, a ground handling company, were sold for ₹18,000 crores (US$2.4 billion) to Talace Private Limited, a Tata Sons' SPV, which concluded with ownership of the airline and associated properties reverting to the TATA in 2021.

Air India Express, India's first international budget airline! Air India Express is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India. The airline carries around 4.84 million passengers each year and connects 140 city pairs with its cost effective and reliable flight services. Air India Express enjoys 7.1% market share in India - International travel market, and 16.4 % market share in the India - Gulf travel market.

Air India Express came into existence on 29 April 2005, with three flights simultaneously from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode. The airline was launched as a low-cost carrier (LCC) to provide convenient connectivity to short-haul international routes in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for the Indian expatriate community. Air India Express was Air India's response to the growing popularity of LCCs worldwide and within the region. Being an LCC, the airline operates point-to-point flights with multiple hubs all over India, with a primary hub located at Cochin International Airport in Kochi.

Air India Express has been named the 'Iconic Brand of India -2021' by The Economic Times. The award was in recognition of its overall performance and efforts to ensure business continuity. In 2021, Air India Express was adjudged as the 'Best Workplace for Women' by The Economic Times.

Air India Express operates an impressive fleet of 24 Boeing 737- 800 Next Generation (NG) aircraft that support our low-cost structure. Air India Express's young and modern fleet comprises economically and ecologically efficient aircraft. These aircraft allow for safe and comfortable flying and are ideal for short/medium-haul flights. Air India Express focuses on providing international flights from Tier-II cities in India to the Gulf and southeast Asia. The airline flies to 33 destinations as of May 2019.

On the domestic front, the airline operates from Kerala, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The airline mainly connects Indian cities with Gulf countries and Singapore in the east in its international arena.

Air India Express services are a cut above the rest. Though Air India Express follows the market principles of a low-cost carrier, Air India Express spare no effort in ensuring passenger comfort and quality of service while delivering affordable air travel to customers. In contrast to other LCCs, Air India Express offers complimentary snacks tea /coffee on board. Also included in Air India Express facilities are also included in affordably priced a-la-carte meals can be booked online.

Air India Cargo

Air India Cargo is one of the world's leading Cargo carriers with an extensive global as well as domestic network. We possess highly experienced & skilled employees to serve the growing list of customers as we offer a high-quality of air freight services with premium facilities.

Air India in order to be digitally up to date with Industry practice uses the latest state of Art technology for Cargo activities called Logistic Management System (LMS) for Cargo Sales & Operational purpose available 24 & 7 to serve our customers better. The LMS system supports EDI interface with Indian Customs. The Logistics Management System (LMS) is in use, providing an end-to-end solution with accuracy and availability of real-time information with reference to booking, acceptance, stowage, unitization, handling, manifestation, carriage, transhipment, delivery etc., within the Air India network.

Air India is an active member of IATA as well as ICH & Air India carries all types of cargo including dangerous goods (hazardous materials) and live animals, provided such shipments are tendered according to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, IATA Live Animals Regulations, Perishables & Temperature Control, respectively.

Star Alliance - Air India

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition, and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,330 airports in 192 countries.

The airline became the 27th member of Star Alliance on 11 July 2014. Air India passengers will enjoy enormous benefits, including seamless transfers while travelling across the world, more frequent flyer mileage points, code sharing leading to a wider choice of flights and access to facilities at over 1000 lounges worldwide.

The Alliance offers passengers a choice of Silver or Gold Status benefits across the alliance relevant to the passenger’s frequent flyer tier level. The traveller’s status is recognized around the world throughout the Star Alliance network at all member airlines. Passengers automatically get the alliance benefits on travelling on the member airline also ensuring more mileage points at the same time. Whenever a member of the frequent flyer program travels on any of the Star Alliance member airlines and flies with another member airline he can earn and redeem miles or points on one frequent flyer program.