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50 years of flying high: The Pioneer
New Delhi, Aug 01: It was 50 years ago to this day, when a World War II vintage DC-3 Dakota sporting a national airlines logo rolled out of the hanger under the gaze of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, heralding the birth of this state-owned carrier. Not many would have thought then that Indian Airlines would become a household name.
New Delhi, Aug 01: It was 50 years ago to this day, when a World War II vintage DC-3 Dakota sporting a national airlines logo rolled out of the hanger under the gaze of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, heralding the birth of this state-owned carrier. Not many would have thought then that Indian Airlines would become a household name.
But, half a century and numerous airpockets and trubulences later, Indian Airlines is flying higher than ever, holding on doggedly to its numero uno position in the country's open skies.
The Indian Airlines Corporation - better known as Indian Airlines or simply IA - was created on August 1, 1953 by an Act of Parliament. The airline was an amalgamation of eight private airlines at a time when the public sector was booming, with giant companies coming up on their way to attain commanding heights of the economy. Keeping pace with time, the first Indian Airlines fleet renewal and acqusition programme saw the induction of the Heron and the Vickers Viscount aircraft. This was followed by the induction of the Fokker Friendship in 1961, the first jet, the French Caravelle in 1963 and the British HS-748 Avro in 1967.
The 1970s saw the emergence of wide-bodied aircraft in the IA fleet, when the first Boeing 737 was added to the fleet. Six years later, in 1976, the Airbus A-300 entered IA's hangers. The more updated A-320s were inducted in 1989.
Deregulation of the domestic air sector in the 1990s helped IA to spread its wings to overseas destinations. The oil-rich Gulf region was added to the existing network, and it's now catering to 17 foreign destinations besides 66 domestic ones. "It's just a milestone we have achieved, no glittering ceremony to prove our worth," said an official when asked about the golden jubilee celebrations. "We are rather gearing up for greater customer satisfaction and there are a slew of measures to keep the bottomline intact." At present, the airlines has 38 A320s - the main strength of the carrier - in a total strength of 59 aircraft. "While three more A-320s are already on their way as part of fleet expansion, between four and six A-320s would be taken on lease as an interim measure in the next peak season to augment capacity, which by then would reach around 56 / 57," the official added.
To woo passengers as a mark of the golden jubilee celebrations, the airlines has undertaken two new schemes. The "Executive Edge" scheme, offered till October 31, entails a free return ticket on IA's domestic or international sector for an executive class passenger who travels on Rs 80,000 worth of tickets. For Rs 30,000 worth of travel in the same class, a passenger would get an executive class upgrade voucher.
The "Fortune 50" scheme, available from Friday (August 1) till September 19 for revenue passengers on flights from six metros, including Hyderabad and Bangalore, offers daily prizes through draw of lots and one mega prize of a Mercedes Benz C class car. About 600 free return tickets would be awarded under the daily draw of lots at the six metro cities. The schemes are aimed at countering additional incentives being given by Air Sahara to travel agents and its companion-free offer on its super sixer scheme. All aircraft of the IA would be body-painted with logos in English and Hindi commemorating the golden jubilee year of the Indian Airlines. The officials said that commemorative issues of in-flight magazines Darpan and Swagat would be brought out along with a coffee-table book on IA's milestone achievements.
The Indian Airlines Corporation - better known as Indian Airlines or simply IA - was created on August 1, 1953 by an Act of Parliament. The airline was an amalgamation of eight private airlines at a time when the public sector was booming, with giant companies coming up on their way to attain commanding heights of the economy. Keeping pace with time, the first Indian Airlines fleet renewal and acqusition programme saw the induction of the Heron and the Vickers Viscount aircraft. This was followed by the induction of the Fokker Friendship in 1961, the first jet, the French Caravelle in 1963 and the British HS-748 Avro in 1967.
The 1970s saw the emergence of wide-bodied aircraft in the IA fleet, when the first Boeing 737 was added to the fleet. Six years later, in 1976, the Airbus A-300 entered IA's hangers. The more updated A-320s were inducted in 1989.
Deregulation of the domestic air sector in the 1990s helped IA to spread its wings to overseas destinations. The oil-rich Gulf region was added to the existing network, and it's now catering to 17 foreign destinations besides 66 domestic ones. "It's just a milestone we have achieved, no glittering ceremony to prove our worth," said an official when asked about the golden jubilee celebrations. "We are rather gearing up for greater customer satisfaction and there are a slew of measures to keep the bottomline intact." At present, the airlines has 38 A320s - the main strength of the carrier - in a total strength of 59 aircraft. "While three more A-320s are already on their way as part of fleet expansion, between four and six A-320s would be taken on lease as an interim measure in the next peak season to augment capacity, which by then would reach around 56 / 57," the official added.
To woo passengers as a mark of the golden jubilee celebrations, the airlines has undertaken two new schemes. The "Executive Edge" scheme, offered till October 31, entails a free return ticket on IA's domestic or international sector for an executive class passenger who travels on Rs 80,000 worth of tickets. For Rs 30,000 worth of travel in the same class, a passenger would get an executive class upgrade voucher.
The "Fortune 50" scheme, available from Friday (August 1) till September 19 for revenue passengers on flights from six metros, including Hyderabad and Bangalore, offers daily prizes through draw of lots and one mega prize of a Mercedes Benz C class car. About 600 free return tickets would be awarded under the daily draw of lots at the six metro cities. The schemes are aimed at countering additional incentives being given by Air Sahara to travel agents and its companion-free offer on its super sixer scheme. All aircraft of the IA would be body-painted with logos in English and Hindi commemorating the golden jubilee year of the Indian Airlines. The officials said that commemorative issues of in-flight magazines Darpan and Swagat would be brought out along with a coffee-table book on IA's milestone achievements.