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Home > About Us > History > Timeline > 1991 - 2000

 

1991
Month Date Event
January 15 Operations to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran and Bahrain temporarily suspended in the wake of the Gulf crisis.
January 16 Operations to Doha temporarily suspended.
January 17 Air India decides to suspend all its flights to the Gulf following the outbreak of hostilities. Families / dependents of all Air India staff in the Gulf moved to safer places.
January 23 Air India resumes its operations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat after a thorough review of the safety conditions.
January 26 Ahmedabad becomes the eighth Indian station in Air India's global air network with the introduction of a weekly Airbus 310 flight AI-102/1019.
January 31 Operations to Sydney withdrawn as they continue to be uneconomic. The last flight AI-424/431 was operated on the India /Sydney sector on January 31, 1991.
March 7 Flights to Bahrain, Doha and Jeddah resumed.
March 14 One weekly service to Riyadh resumed.
March 16 Air India resumes operations to Tehran.
March 22 Air India resumes services to Dhahran.
August 14 Air India resumes operations to Kuwait with a weekly Airbus 310 service. Air India places a formal order on Boeing Company for acquisition of four 747-400 passenger airoplanes following the Government's approval of Air India's proposal to purchase this aircraft.
 
1992
Month Date Event
April 19 Air India switches over to UNISYS 2200/435 computer system, the latest in the UNISYS family of computers and USAS 2000 software for its passenger reservations and related applications.
June 3 The Guinness Book of Records, the world's most renowned book of records, has recognized Air India's historic and Herculean effort of airlifting over a lakh stranded Indian nationals from Amman during August-October 1990 as a record and will include it in the 1993 edition.
July 15 Air India signed a credit agreement for US$ 600.039 million with Exim Bank, USA and a commercial agreement with M/s. Citibank and ANZ Grindlays combine for US$ 74.216 million for financing the acquisition of four Boeing 747-400 passenger version aircraft.
October 15 Air India celebrates its Diamond Jubilee in Mumbai by organising a two-day Indian International Aviation Congress, which attracted over 250 participants from aircraft/engine manufacturing companies and banking/financial institutions from the world over. The theme of the Congress was"Aviation Industry - The Changing Scenario". Mr. J.R.D.Tata, whose epoch-making flight from Karachi to Mumbai on October 15, 1932 had heralded the birth of civil aviation in India, was felicitated on the occasion.
 
1993
Month Date Event
August 4 Air India's first Boeing 747-400 VT-ESM christened "KONARK" received by Mr.J.N. Gogoi, Director of Engineering, Air India, from Mr. D.J. Hilby, Regional Director-Contract, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group at Seattle.
August 14 Air India's first Boeing 747-400 VT-ESM "KONARK" arrives in Delhi after flying non-stop from New York.
September 1 Air India operates its first commercial flight AI-125 from Mumbai to London with Boeing 747-400 "KONARK".
September 3 Air India's new Boeing 747-400 flight simulator is installed at its Operations Training Complex in Mumbai. The simulator is fitted with a Maxvue Visual system, both supplied by CAE- Electronics of Montreal, Canada.
September 8 Air India cuts over to SITA (Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques) Airfare, a sophisticated automated fare quotation system.
October 2 Dar-es-Salaam, Durban and Johannesburg become on-line stations. The first flight is operated with A310 aircraft - on the routing Mumbai-Dar-es-Salaam -Durban-Johannesburg -Dar-es-Salaam-Mumbai.
October 31 Jakarta reintroduced as on-line station. The twice weekly flight is operated Mumbai-Chennai-Singapore-Jakarta on Tuesdays and Sundays. Fujairah, Ras-al-Khaymah and Sharjah become offline offices.
November 15 Arrival of the second Boeing 747-400 VT-ESN "Tanjore" in Mumbai. The flight was ferried from Seattle to London via New York and then operated as a scheduled service AI-132 London-Delhi-Mumbai.
December 14 Arrival of third Boeing 747-400 VT-ESO "Khajuraho". The flight was ferried from Seattle to Toronto and operated Toronto -London- Mumbai as a commercial flight number AI-188.
December 15 Kozhikode became an on-line station. Air India begins joint operations with Indian Airlines' Airbus A320. Twelve services are operated every week - four each to Dubai, Abu-Dhabi and Muscat. The first service AI-923 left Kozhikode for Abu Dhabi.
 
1994
Month Date Event
January 29 The President of India promulgates an ordinance called "The Air Corporations (Transfer of Undertakings and Repeal) Ordinance, 1994" repealing the Air Corporations Act, 1953.
February 16 Air India and Indian Airlines commenced hub and spoke operations with Air India flight numbers and Indian Airlines Boeing 737/Airbus 320 aircraft. These flights are operated from Hyderabad and Ahmedabad to Mumbai and from Amritsar and Ahmedabad to Delhi.
February 18 Notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of India states "In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Air Corporations (Transfer of Undertakings and Repeal) Ordinance, 1994 (4 of 1994), the Central Government hereby appoints the first day of March 1994 as the date on which the undertakings of Indian Airlines and Air India shall be transferred to, and vest in Indian Airlines Limited and Air India Limited, respectively".
March 7 Parliament passes The Air Corporations (Transfer of Undertakings and Repeal) Ordinance, 1994.
March 27 Daily service to New York is operated with new state-of-the-art Boeing 747-400s.
May 10 Air India operates special Airbus 310 flight from Mumbai to Sanaa via Muscat to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in strife-torn Yemen.
June 1 Air India and Indian Airlines launch a joint Frequent Flyer Programme branded "FLYING RETURNS" for residents of India who are at least 12 years of age and purchase their tickets in India. Members can accrue mileage points on either or both the airlines and redeem them for award tickets on either Air India or Indian Airlines or on both airlines.
June 2 Air India enters into a wetlease agreement with Southern Air Transport and Emery Worldwide of USA for operation of DC8 -73 freighter services - two to Europe (Brussels/Zurich) and two to USA (New York).
June 28 Air India's 4th. Boeing 747-400 VT-ESP christened "AJANTA" is formally received by Capt. D.S. Mathur, Managing Director, Air India, from Mr. Edward Renouard, Vice-President and General Manager, Everett Aviation Division, at Seattle in the presence of Dr. Dinesh Keskar, Regional Director-Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, and Mr. J.N.Gogoi, Director of Engineering, Air India.
July 2 Air India's 4th Boeing 747-400 VT-ESP "Ajanta" arrives in Mumbai. The aircraft was ferried from Seattle to New York on June 29, 1994 and then on June 30 operated as a commercial service (AI-108) on the New York- London-Delhi-Mumbai sector.
July 22 Agreement is signed in Mumbai for introduction of "Sitar" (System Interface for Travel Agents Reservations). The computerised reservations system in collaboration with SABRE, a global reservations system for travel agents owned by American Airlines, will enable travel agents in India to provide flight schedules, fares and seat availability on any airline in the world, rates and reservations for rail journeys, car rentals, hotel accommodation, tour packages, and other allied travel and travel-related services all over the world through this new Computerised Reservations System.
July 29 Air India and Indian Airlines jointly introduce "SITAR" for travel agents in India in collaboration with SABRE of American Airlines.
September 16 Boeing 747-400 Line Maintenance Hangar at Mumbai Airport inaugurated.
November 16 Air India enters into an agreement with M/s. Caribjet Inc. for wetleasing of two Airbus 310 aircraft each with 24 Executive Class and 180 Economy Class seats.
December 24 Arrival of the first of the two A310 aircraft wetleased from M/s. Caribjet Inc.
 
1995
Month Date Event
January 11 Arrival of the second A310 aircraft wetleased from M/s. Caribjet Inc.
January 19 Air India entered into an agreement with Boeing Commercial Airplane Group for purchase of two more Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
March 2 Operations to Perth reintroduced the twice weekly services are operated with Air India's own A310 aircraft on Mondays and Thursdays on the routing Mumbai-Bangalore-Singapore-Perth-Singapore- Bangalore-Mumbai. With the reintroduction of this service, Air India's worldwide route network once again covers all five continents.
September 5 Air India and Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) commence joint operations between Delhi and Copenhagen on a code-sharing basis.
November 16 Commencement of services to Manchester on Mondays and Thursdays with the routing Mumbai -Delhi-Rome-Manchester-Rome-Delhi-Mumbai.
December 1 Two L-1011-500 aircraft are wetleased from Caribjet.
December 3 Operations to Amsterdam reintroduced after a gap of five years with twice weekly services from Mumbai, via New Delhi and Frankfurt.
December 15 Air India enters into a code-sharing agreement with United Airlines whereby the airline has blocked seat arrangement for Los Angeles on the eastbound and Newark (changed to Washington on April 7, 1996) on the westbound round- the- world 14 weekly services through Delhi.
 
1996
Month Date Event
January 1 Reintroduction of a weekly service to Entebbe with the routing Mumbai-Nairobi-Entebbe- Mumbai. Air India withdrew services to Entebbe on January 19, 1973. Three A310-300s are wetleased - one from Caribjet and two from Air Club.
February 4 Commencement of services to Tel Aviv. The twice-weekly flights are operated with A310 aircraft with the routing Mumbai-Tel Aviv- Mumbai.
July 16 New IATA Billing Settlement Plan, a standardised system for airlines and agents providing a simplified method for selling, reporting and administering passenger air transportation, introduced by airlines and travel agents in India.
September 4 Agreement with M/s. Caribjet Inc., Antigua and Barbuda, West Indies, for wetlease of two L1011-500 and one A310 aircraft terminated.
September 12 Inauguration of Composite Repair Facility in the Components Overhaul Division at Air India's Engineering base at the Old Airport, Mumbai.
September 18 Air India begins "Operation Amnesty Airlift" to bring back Indian nationals who do not have valid permits from the United Arab Emirates.
September 27 The three freighters are withdrawn.
October 16 Air India switches over to advanced UNISYS 2200/511 computer system and 11R2 software for Departure Control at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and New York.
October 27 Zurich becomes online for passenger services. The twice-weekly services are operated on Sundays on the routing Mumbai-Delhi-Rome- Zurich-Rome-Delhi, the flight on Tuesdays terminates in Mumbai.
October 28 Entebbe becomes on-line.
October 31 Fifth Boeing 747-400 christened "AGRA" delivered to Air India in Seattle. The aircraft departs from Seattle and arrives in Mumbai on November 3, 1996 to join the fleet. "Operation Amnesty Airlift" concludes. Air India brings back 37,430 Indians between September 18 and October 31 by operating 35 special flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and rerouting 24 flights to these points, including the last rerouted flight which arrives in Mumbai on November 1, 1996.
November 15 Sixth Boeing 747-400 "Velha Goa" (meaning Old Goa) delivered to Air India in Seattle. The aircraft operates as a ferry flight from Seattle to New York to Mumbai via London. It arrives in Mumbai on November 18, 1996.
November 30 Chicago - Air India's second gateway in the USA - becomes online. The twice-weekly services are operated with Boeing 747-400s on the routing Mumbai-Frankfurt-Chicago-Frankfurt- Mumbai.
 
1997
Month Date Event
January 29 Operations to Amsterdam suspended.
February 12 Code-share flights with United Airlines between Los Angeles and New Delhi withdrawn. Air India continues to have blocked seat arrangement for Washington on UA's round-the-world 7 weekly services through Delhi.
February 17 The twice-weekly Nairobi services are extended to Dar-es-Salaam which was hitherto on the South Africa route.
February 23 Flights to Durban/Johannesburg in South Africa suspended.
March 11 Flights to Toronto are temporarily suspended.
March 30 Zurich becomes offline.
April 1 "Flying Returns", the joint Frequent Flyer Programme of Air India and Indian Airlines, launched in the Gulf.
May 11 Air India and Air France agree to form major global alliance.
May 28 Air India cuts to the Internet. The address of its Website is http://www.airindia.com
June 1 The twice-weekly Chicago services, operated with Boeing 747-400s, are routed via London instead of Frankfurt.
June 3 Flights to Bangkok-Tokyo are operated with Boeing 747-400s instead of B747-200s.
July 4 Seoul in South Korea becomes online with the extension of two of the three weekly A310 operated Hong Kong terminators. The twice- weekly B747 services to Osaka continue to be operated via Hong Kong.
August 15 First Airbus 300B aircraft VT-EHQ to undergo periodic maintenance check at Air India's own Engineering base at Old Airport, Mumbai, put into service.
September 5 Air India's Engineering Department is awarded the Quality System Certificate under ISO-9002 by the Bureau of Indian Standards, accredited to R.V.A0,. Netherlands, for all aircraft maintenance activities carried out in Mumbai.
October 12 Evacuation of stranded Indian nationals, who were compelled to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before the deadline of the amnesty period expired on October 16, commences. A total of 8,461 deportees were flown to India by November 7.
October 25 Air India and Austrian Airlines enter into a code-share-cum-blocked space arrangement for twice-weekly A310 services being operated between Vienna and Delhi.
November 1 Air India and Air France enter into a major global alliance.
November 15 Air India commences code-shed flights with Indian Airlines.
December 1 Flying Returns, the Frequent Flyer Programme operated jointly by Air India and Indian Airlines, ties up with Frequence Plus, the Frequent Flyer Programme of Air France.
December 31 Contract for wetlease of two A310s from Air Club terminated.
 
1998
Month Date Event
March 1 Code-share flights with Air France between Paris and Geneva/Amsterdam/Frankfurt commence.
March 17 Nacelle Strut Modification on Air India's Boeing 747-200 and B747-400 initiated in-house by Engineering Department.
March 29 With the commencement of the new Summer schedule, direct non-stop flights are introduced between Hyderabad and Singapore.
Code-share arrangement with Swissair whereby a block of 25 Economy Class seats is made available to Air India on four of its weekly services to Zurich - two each from Mumbai and Delhi - comes into effect.
April 15 Blocked seat arrangement on two weekly services of Air France to Paris - one from/to Mumbai and the other from/to Delhi - commences.
December 12 Mr P.C. Sen relinquishes charge as Chairman and Mr. P.V. Jayakrishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, takes over as part-time Chairman.
December 19 Offline office opened in Malappuram, Kerala.
 
1999
Month Date Event
January 1 Kozhikode becomes online with the commencement of direct flights between Kozhikode and the Gulf operated with Air India's own Airbus 310 aircraft. Two weekly services are operated to Dubai and one to Abu Dhabi.
January 14 New Pratt & Whitney 4056 Engine Overhaul Workshop commissioned at the Old Airport, Mumbai by Mr M.P. Mascarenhas, Managing Director.
January 23 Bangalore is linked to London/New York via Mumbai through a direct Boeing 747-400 flight originating from Bangalore. The flight is inaugurated by Mr Ananth Kumar, Minister of Civil Aviation.
February 23 Ground Services Department acquires ISO-9002 certification for providing ramp handling services to domestic and international carriers at Mumbai Airport and transport services to Air India personnel in Mumbai.
March 1 Air India enters into a code-share-cum-blocked space agreement with Asiana Airlines for their twice weekly flights between Delhi and Seoul and blocked space agreement for weekly flight between Seoul and San Francisco.
March 31 Mumbai's Sahar Airport is rechristened as Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport after the legendary 17th century Maratha ruler. The plaque renaming the airport is unveiled by Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister of India.
May 1 Schedules to certain destinations are restructured to optimise revenue generation through redeployment of capacity. Frankfurt, Rome and Manchester become offline stations. Frequency of services to Chicago reduced from six to three - all via London.
May 9 Air India cargo computer system is switched over to USAS*CGO 12R1 software on UNISYS 2200/5222 mainframe at cargo computer site located at Headquarters Building in Mumbai. Air India is the first carrier in the Asia-Pacific region to implement this state-of-the-art system.
June 10 Kochi becomes the eleventh Indian online station and the third online station in Kerala. The first flight to touch down at Cochin International Airport is AI-916 from Dhahran.
August 5 Air India acquires ISO-9002 certification for its Engine Overhaul facilities.
August 15 Air India flights to all destinations barring those to the Gulf, Hong Kong and Japan routes are made non-smoking (Also see October 25, 1998).
September 8 Air India and Indian Railways sign an agreement whereby Air India will market Indrail passes of Indian Railways through its offices abroad.
September 23 Air India operates the first formal flight from Terminal 2C of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai. The first flight handled is AI-877 bound for Doha-Bahrain operated with a Boeing 747-400.
October 7 New Terminal 2C commissioned at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport for Air India flights and flights of foreign carriers for whom ground handling is done by Air India are operated from the new terminal.
November 2 Kochi is linked directly with Kuwait. The weekly Airbus 310 service which originates in Chennai is operated on the routing Chennai-Kochi-Kuwait-Kochi-Chennai-Mumbai.
November 15 Mr. Ravindra Gupta takes over as Part-time Chairman of Air India in addition to his duties as Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.
December 9 Air India enters into a code-share agreement with Virgin Atlantic Airways which will allow Virgin to operate three flights on Air India's unutilised entitlements between the UK and India every week.
 
2000
Month Date Event
March 1 Corporate Intranet project "CLICK" (the acronym for Company Log In to Communicate Knowledge) is launched.
April 11 New state-of-the-art twin bay maintenance hangar for Boeing 747-400 aircraft is commissioned by Mr Sharad Yadav, Hon'ble Minister of Civil Aviation, at Air India's Engineering base at the Old Airport, Mumbai.
April 18 Engineering and Engine Overhaul Departments receive JAR-145 Certification from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), UK. This recognition from the safety and regulatory authority of the civil aviation industry in the UK enables Air India to market its engineering services to other airlines in Europe.
May 31 Boeing 747-200 "Akbar" (VT-EDU) sold to Mon Aviation, USA.
June 22 Boeing 747-200s ‘Shahjehan’ (VT-EBE) and ‘Rajendra Chola’ (VT-EBN) sold to Aero Controls Inc., USA.
July 5 Code share-cum-Block Space Arrangement with Virgin Atlantic commenced with the introduction of twice weekly non-stop Boeing 747 flights operated by the latter between Delhi and London.
August 1 Air India enters into a codeshare/block space arrangement with Messrs Aeroflot for their thrice weekly Boeing 777 services between Moscow and Delhi.
September 1 Codeshare flights commenced with Emirates Airlines for its four weekly Airbus 310-300 services between Chennai and Dubai.
October 13 Agreement signed with Singapore Airlines for dry lease of two Airbus 310s for a period of three years.
October 17 Mr. A.H. Jung, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, is appointed as part-time Chairman of Air India in place of Mr Ravindra Gupta, Secretary, Department of Defence Production and Supplies.
November 29 Agreement signed with M/s GECAS for dry lease of two more Airbus 310s.
December 15 The first dry leased Airbus 310 aircraft christened ‘Periyar’ (VT-EVE) joins fleet. The aircraft is leased from Singapore Airlines.
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