India's premier domestic and regional public carrier.
Founded
1953
Headquarters
New Delhi, India
Indian Airlines was the state-owned domestic and regional international airline of India, operating under the parent company National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL). Founded in 1953 following the nationalization of private airlines under the Air Corporations Act, it served as the primary carrier for domestic routes across India for decades.
The airline operated a substantial network connecting major Indian cities as well as select international destinations in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. It was known for its wide reach into smaller Indian cities and towns, making it a critical part of the country's aviation infrastructure.
In 2007, Indian Airlines was formally merged with Air India under the NACIL umbrella as part of a government-directed consolidation effort. The merged entity continued operating under the Air India brand, effectively ending Indian Airlines as a distinct carrier by around 2011.
Hubs & network
Primary hubs included Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata).
Fleet
Indian Airlines operated a fleet primarily consisting of Airbus A320 family aircraft, Boeing 737s, and earlier Airbus A300s, along with turboprop Dornier 228s for regional routes.
Notable facts
- ›Indian Airlines was established in 1953 under the Air Corporations Act, which nationalized eight existing private airlines.
- ›It was one of the first airlines in Asia to operate the Airbus A320, introduced in 1989.
- ›The airline was merged with Air India in 2007 under the newly formed National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL).
- ›Indian Airlines Flight 814 was hijacked in December 1999 in one of India's most high-profile aviation security incidents.
- ›At its peak, Indian Airlines operated over 75 aircraft and served more than 70 domestic and international destinations.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
