Across airports, IndiGo and the Tata group of airlines run the lion’s share of the flights. As more airports come up for privatisation, the presence of these biggies may reassure prospective players about the potential of the business.
JRD Tata birth anniversary: "We had no aids whatsoever on the ground or in the air... no radio, no navigational or landing guides of any kind. In fact we did not even have an aerodrome in Bombay," he had said recollecting the first air service experience.
Time was when every middle-class home in India proudly displayed a little Maharajah curio in their living room showcases. Will we see that again with Air India's return to the Tata Group?
Hejmadi was in the city to deliver the keynote address at the 112th birthday celebrations of the airline founder JRD Tata over the weekend. He founded the airline as Tata Airlines on October 15, 1932 which was taken over the government later.
The livery of AirAsia India's fourth aircraft dons an image of JRD Tata with a Puss Moth, the aircraft he flew on October 15, 1932, leading to the birth of Tata Airlines and starting civil aviation in the sub-continent.
Ratan Tata today said FIPB clearance to the airline venture between Malaysia's AirAsia, Tatas and another company reflects the Indian government's "true investor friendly policies" and such actions will reinforce confidence in the country.