Latest news with #J.R.D.Tata
India.com
14-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Who owns Air India planes? Government sold the airlines 3 years ago for Rs 18,000 crore
Who owns Air India planes? Government sold the airlines 3 years ago for Rs 18,000 crore Air India flights was back in discussion after on June 12, a London Gatwick-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed soon after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 people on board, and several others on the ground as it plunged into a medical college complex. A high-level multi-disciplinary committee, headed by the Union home secretary, will examine the causes that led to the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, and also suggest comprehensive guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future. Aviation watchdog DGCA also ordered enhanced safety inspection of Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet powered by GEnx engines, a day after 241 people onboard died in the plane crash in Ahmedabad. The enhanced DGCA inspection will include checks of various systems and a review of take-off parameters of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft of Air India Who is the owner of Air India? On one hand, when there has been a big accident in the country, on the other hand, there are discussions about the owner of Air India. The owner of Air India is TATA Group. Till a few years ago, the owner of Air India was the Government of India, that is, the government used to operate Air India, but 3 years ago, Tata bought it for Rs 18000 crore. Tata Sons has a 74.9 percent stake in the airline and the remaining 25.1 percent stake is with Singapore Airlines. Let us tell you that this airline was earlier owned by Tata under the name of Air India. Air India is the oldest and first airline company of the country, it was started in 1932 under the name of Tata Airlines. Air India's history with Tata? Tata Airlines made its first scheduled flight from Karachi to Bombay on October 15, 1932, with J.R.D. Tata himself as the pilot. Tata successfully persuaded the colonial government to allow the airline to carry mail from Karachi to Bombay. This marked the beginning of Air India. Over time, Air India expanded its services to include both domestic and international passenger flights. However, as soon as the Second World War began, all of Tata Airlines' aircraft were confiscated by the colonial government. After the war ended in 1946, J.R.D. Tata decided to turn Tata Airlines into a public company, renaming it Air India and offering 49 percent ownership to the government. Air India, founded in 1932, was owned by the Government of India from 1953 to 2022. After spending several years trying to sell it, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi found a buyer in the Tata Group. Tata, which lost control of Air India nearly seven decades ago, regained it in 2022.
Int'l Business Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Tata Group Accused of Letting Air India's Standards Slip for Years
Amidst the onslaught of the recent Air India Flight 171 tragedy, many people are turning their heads not only to the airline but also to its current owner–national conglomerate Tata Group. The airline, which was bought by Tata Group in 2022, faces continued scrutiny amidst a continued decline in its standards, which range from outdated aeroplane facilities to frequent flight delays. How Tata Group Is Currently Responding In a post on Tata Group's official X (Twitter) account, Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran has stated that they are offering their thoughts and deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy. With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident today. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event. At this moment, our… — Tata Group (@TataCompanies) June 12, 2025 'Currently, our primary focus is supporting all the affected people and their families. We are doing everything in our power to assist the site's emergency response teams and provide all necessary support and care to those impacted,' the Chairman said. He also added that further updates will be shared as soon as they receive more verified information, that an emergency centre has been activated, and that a support team has been set up for the affected families. Air India Flight 171 was supposed to fly to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad when it crashed minutes after take-off. The airline carried 242 passengers and crew members, with 30 confirmed recovered bodies from the crash site. Moreover, the aeroplane crashed into a building where doctors working in local hospitals were living. How Air India Ended Up With Tata Group It is worth noting that Air India's origins can be traced back to Tata Group's former Chairman, J. R. D. Tata, who founded the airline as Tata Airlines. The airline was primarily used for air mail. After the Second World War, the newly formed Indian government consolidated the airline as Air India. Despite the Indian government's efforts to keep Air India's operations, the airline has suffered significant losses. The airline had been incurring losses since its 2007 merger with the state-owned domestic carrier Indian Airlines. It continued to operate primarily through government-funded bailouts. According to the government, the airline lost almost $2.6 million (£1.91 million) daily. In 2022, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sold Air India to Tata Group for approximately $2.4 billion (£1.7 billion) after the government eased the debt conditions to make the deal more attractive for the buyer. This transfer marks the conclusion of a years-long effort to privatise the airline, which had accumulated losses totalling $9.5 billion (£6.98 billion). What Happened to the Post-Government Sale? Following Air India's sale to the Tata Group in 2022, the company consolidated its aviation businesses to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Key mergers include the integration of Vistara with Air India and Air India Express with AirAsia India. These moves aimed to unify operations under two primary brands: Air India for full-service and Air India Express for low-cost travel. The mergers have helped reduce redundancies, optimise fleet usage, and improve route connectivity. Additionally, investments in new aircraft, digital systems, and service upgrades have enhanced customer experience and operational reliability. Has The Service Improved? Air India has encountered significant turmoil since its 2022 acquisition by the Tata Group, grappling with labour unrest, operational disruptions, and infrastructure constraints. Mergers with Vistara and Air India Express triggered mass 'sick leave' protests by pilots and cabin crew over revised pay, roster fatigue, and unequal treatment—leading to dozens of cancelled flights and regulatory interventions. Labour unions warned that intense workloads and pay cuts undermined safety and morale. On-time performance also slipped, especially on long-haul routes, due to engineering delays, unavailability of spare parts, and crew shortages. Additionally, global supply chain issues have delayed new aircraft deliveries, forcing the airline to keep ageing jets in service longer and increasing maintenance costs. Despite these setbacks, the situation remains under close regulatory and operational scrutiny–even amidst the airline's latest incident. Originally published on IBTimes UK
DW
12-06-2025
- Business
- DW
Air India: What you need to know after crash – DW – 06/12/2025
A crash involving an Air India jet comes as the flag carrier undergoes a major revamp under the Tata Group's ownership. An Air India passenger plane with over 240 people on board crashed Thursday in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was bound for London's Gatwick Airport. It's one of the worst aviation disasters in the South Asian nation's history. The accident comes as the airline's owner, the Tata Group, is working to revamp the carrier. Airline with a rich history Founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by Indian business tycoon J. R. D. Tata, Air India was once a national icon. The Indian government took over and nationalized the airline in 1953. Years of mismanagement and government interference in business operations turned the then national carrier into an inefficient, money-losing enterprise. After India opened up the civil aviation sector to private players in the 1990s, Air India struggled further with rising competition, particularly in the low-cost segment, leading to ballooning debts. Air India returns to the Tatas The Indian government's initial attempts to privatize Air India yielded no results due to the carrier's heavy debt burden. New Delhi also wanted to keep a share in the airline. No apparent survivors in Air India plane crash To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video As it struggled to find a buyer, the government ultimately gave up on retaining a stake and also settled for the buyer covering only a fraction of the airline's debts. Then, in 2022, India's largest and oldest conglomerate, the Tata Group, bought Air India for roughly $2.4 billion, marking the carrier's return to the Tata fold nearly seven decades after it was nationalized. How big is Air India? Prior to acquiring Air India, Tata had been operating two other airlines of its own, the budget carrier AirAsia India with Malaysian airline AirAsia Berhad, and full-service carrier Vistara, in a partnership with Singapore airlines. Last year, the company consolidated all the different airlines under its ownership into a combined Air India Group, which is currently the second-biggest airline in the South Asian nation in terms of passenger numbers, trailing only IndiGo in that respect. It commands a roughly 30% share of India's domestic traffic and accounts for 56% of international passengers among the country's airlines. The group has a fleet of about 300 aircraft, both narrow- and wide-body models from both Airbus and Boeing, and carried a total of 45.8 million domestic air passengers in 2024, according to Business Standard, an Indian daily. Air India's global network spans 31 countries across five continents, connecting India with destinations in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. What did the Tatas do to revamp Air India? After the Tata Group purchased Air India, many hoped it would swiftly revive the airline's fortunes. The conglomerate has since sought to turn around the ailing carrier by ordering new jets and upgrading its existing fleet. It placed a major order for new planes — 470 in total — from Airbus and Boeing in February 2023. Last December, the airline announced it would buy a further 100 jets from Airbus. And Reuters news agency reported earlier in June that Air India was in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a major new aircraft deal including some 200 extra single-aisle planes. Air India flight crashes more withthan 240 people on board To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The company also unveiled a new logo and branding in mid-2023, in addition to plans to modernize its aircraft interiors, among other measures. In September 2024, Air India kicked off a $400 million (€345 million) refit program to revamp some legacy aircraft in its fleet. Some operational and internal issues related to the airlines' merger, however, are still being ironed out. What's the state of India's aviation market? India's aviation sector has witnessed rapid growth over the past decade amid robust economic expansion and people's rising disposable incomes. The industry is projected to maintain its growth path in the coming years, with more passengers, aircraft and airports. At present, India is the world's fourth-largest air market, including both domestic and international travel. The International Air Transport Association projects that it will become the third biggest over the next decade. The Indian government is also pumping billions into building new airports, as well as expanding and modernizing existing ones, earmarking around $11 billion for the purpose. It wants to increase the number of airports to between 350 and 400 by 2047, the centenary of India's independence. Additionally, India has become the world's largest aircraft purchaser after the US and China, with its fleet size set to grow from 713 to upwards of 2,000 over the next decade. Edited by: Wesley Rahn
DW
12-06-2025
- Business
- DW
What you need to know about Air India – DW – 06/12/2025
A crash involving an Air India jet comes as the flag-carrier undergoes a major revamp under the Tata Group's ownership. An Air India passenger plane with over 240 people on board crashed Thursday in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was bound for London's Gatwick Airport. It's one of the worst aviation disasters in the South Asian nation's history. The accident comes as the airline's owner, the Tata Group, is working to revamp the carrier. Airline with a rich history Founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines by Indian business tycoon J. R. D. Tata, Air India was once a national icon. The Indian government took over and nationalized the airline in 1953. Years of mismanagement and government interference in business operations turned the then national carrier into an inefficient, money-losing enterprise. After India opened up the civil aviation sector to private players in the 1990s, Air India struggled further with rising competition, particularly in the low-cost segment, leading to ballooning debts. No apparent survivors in Air India plane crash To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Air India returns to the Tatas The Indian government's initial attempts to privatize Air India yielded no results due to the carrier's heavy debt burden. New Delhi also wanted to keep a share in the airline. As it struggled to find a buyer, the government ultimately gave up on retaining a stake and also settled for the buyer covering only a fraction of the airline's debts. Then, in 2022, India's largest and oldest conglomerate, the Tata Group, bought Air India for roughly $2.4 billion, marking the carrier's return to the Tata fold nearly seven decades after it was nationalized. How big is Air India? Prior to acquiring Air India, Tata had been operating two other airlines of its own, the budget carrier AirAsia India with Malaysian airline AirAsia Berhad, and full-service carrier Vistara in a partnership with Singapore airlines. Last year, the company consolidated all the different airlines under its ownership into a combined Air India Group, which is currently the second-biggest airline in the South Asian nation in terms of passenger numbers, next only to IndiGo. It commands a roughly 30% share of India's domestic traffic and accounts for 56% of international passengers among the country's airlines. The group has a fleet of about 300 aircraft, both narrow- and wide-body models from both Airbus and Boeing, and carried a total of 45.8 million domestic air passengers in 2024, according to Business Standard, an Indian daily. Air India's global network spans 31 countries across five continents, connecting India with destinations in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. What did the Tatas do to revamp Air India? After the Tata Group purchased Air India, many hoped it would swiftly revive the airline's fortunes. The conglomerate has since sought to turn around the ailing carrier by ordering new jets and upgrading its existing fleet. It placed a major order for new planes — 470 in total — from Airbus and Boeing in February 2023. Last December, the airline announced it would buy a further 100 jets from Airbus. And Reuters news agency reported earlier in June that Air India was in talks with Airbus and Boeing for a major new aircraft deal including some 200 extra single-aisle planes. The company also unveiled a new logo and branding in mid-2023, in addition to plans to modernize its aircraft interiors, among other measures. In September 2024, Air India kicked off a $400 million refit program to revamp some legacy aircraft in its fleet. Some operational and internal issues related to the airlines' merger, however, are still being ironed out. What's the state of India's aviation market? India's aviation sector has witnessed rapid growth over the past decade amid robust economic expansion and people's rising disposable incomes. The industry is projected to maintain its growth path in the coming years, with more passengers, aircraft and airports. At present, India is the world's fourth-largest air market, including both domestic and international travel. The International Air Transport Association projects that it will become the third biggest over the next decade. The Indian government is also pumping billions into building new airports, as well as expanding and modernizing existing ones, earmarking around $11 billion for the purpose. It wants to increase the number of airports to between 350 and 400 by 2047, the centenary of India's independence. Additionally, India has become the world's largest aircraft purchaser after the US and China, with its fleet size set to grow from 713 to upwards of 2,000 over the next decade. Edited by: Wesley Rahn
India.com
09-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
India's First Airport Is In THIS City, Played Pivotal Role In World War II – Know Its Tata Link
photoDetails english 2898401 Updated:May 09, 2025, 01:22 PM IST India's First Airport 1 / 7 Did you know that Juhu Aerodrome in Mumbai is India's first airport? Established in 1928, it marked the beginning of the country's civil aviation journey. Located in Mumbai's upscale Juhu area, it was originally known as the Vile Parle Aviation Club. The Iconic First Flight 2 / 7 On October 15, 1932, history was made at Juhu Aerodrome when J.R.D. Tata, the father of Indian aviation, piloted India's first commercial flight from Karachi to Bombay, landing at Juhu. This marked the birth of Tata Airlines, which would later evolve into Air India. J.R.D. Tata 3 / 7 J.R.D. Tata was just 15 years old when he took a joyride in a small plane in France. That flight sparked his lifelong love for aviation. He later became India's first licensed pilot in 1929, just a year after Juhu Aerodrome was built. Juhu's Role During World War II 4 / 7 During World War II, Juhu Aerodrome wasn't just a civilian airstrip — it was transformed into a key military base. It served as Mumbai's primary airport, providing vital support for British and Allied military operations in the region. The Rise of Tata Airlines 5 / 7 With J.R.D. Tata at the helm, Tata Airlines operated from Juhu and played a major role in wartime aviation, transporting mail and supplies during the conflict. This experience laid the groundwork for India's post-war civil aviation sector. From Tata Airlines to Air India 6 / 7 Tata Airlines eventually became Air India in 1946, and was nationalized in 1953. But in a full-circle moment, the Tata Group repurchased Air India in 2022, reconnecting the family legacy with India's national airline. Juhu Today – Not for Commercial Use 7 / 7 Today, Juhu Aerodrome no longer handles commercial flights. It is used for VIP movements, helicopter services, and serves as a secondary aviation base for the city of Mumbai. But its historical significance remains unmatched.
