Air India#Early years

Tata Airlines was an Indian airline. It was the forerunner of Air India.

History

In 1932 founded Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, scion of the Parsi Unternehmerdynasie Tata, the Tata Aviation Service airmail companies. Later, he called the company to Tata Airlines.

On October 15, 1932 Tata Airlines took to the regular postal service between Karachi and Madras. The namesake of the company Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata started with a de Havilland DH80 Puss Moth for the first flight on the old Airport Road Drigh in Karachi. In Bombay (now Mumbai) Nevill Vintcent took over the machine for onward flight to Madras via Bellary.

Apart from the de Havilland DH80 Puss Moth, the Company still has a de Havilland DH85 Leopard Moth. The staff sat next to Tata and Vintcent from another pilot, two budding mechanics and an engineer, but only temporarily was available, together. In Karachi there was a radio station and limited resource for night landings. But on the whole route to Madras, which was 2100 km, lacked any support from the ground. Despite these difficult conditions in 1933 over 250,000 air miles were traveled. The company transported 10,710 kilograms mail and 155 passengers.

In 1934, Tata Airlines flew twice a week to Madras. Soon after, other routes were flown. During World War II, Tata Airlines was commissioned to explore a route to southern Arabia. The company transported supplies to Iraq, flew refugees from Burma and took over maintenance and overhaul contracts from the Royal Air Force.

1946 Tata Airlines was renamed as Air India.

1953 Air India was nationalized by the government of Jawaharlal Nehru, a measure against which the founders fought with all my heart.

Fleet

  • de Havilland Puss Moth D.H.80
  • De Havilland Leopard Moth D.H.85
  • De Havilland D.H.86 Express
  • De Havilland Dragon Rapide D.H.89
  • Stinson Airliner

Routes

De Havilland Express
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