Tata Group Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata on Friday welcomed Tata Son's successful bid for India's flagship airline, Air India, which returns the carrier to the Tata brand 89 years since it was first launched as Tata Airlines by J.R.D Tata.
“The Tata Group winning the bid for Air India is great news! While admittedly it will take considerable effort to rebuild Air India, it will hopefully provide a very strong market opportunity to the Tata’s Group’s presence in the aviation industry.”
“On an emotional note, Air India, under the leadership of Mr J.R.D. Tata had, at one time, gained the reputation of being one of the most prestigious airlines in the world. Tatas will have the opportunity of regaining the image and reputation it enjoyed in earlier years. Mr J.R.D. Tata would have been overjoyed if he was in our midst today.
We also need to recognise and thank the government for its recent policy of opening select industries to the private sector. Welcome back, Air India!” Tata tweeted.
J.R.D Tata had founded Tata Air Services, later renamed Tata Airlines, in 1932. Its initial contract was to carry mail for Imperial Airways, with the airlines having an inventory of two single-engine de Havilland Puss Moths. Tata himself flew the first-ever flight of Tata Air Services on October 15, carrying mail in a Puss Moth from Karachi to Mumbai.
Air India was nationalised in 1953.
Aarohi Pandit, the world’s first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean solo in a light-sport aircraft, will be re-enacting this historic flight on October 15.