Air India, which was formerly known as Air-India is the largest and the flagship carrier of India. Other than Indian Airlines or Indian, Air India is the other state-owned airline of the country. Air India has a huge network of passenger and cargo services all over the world. The national flagship carrier of India has its two main bases in two major metropolitan cities of the country-Delhi Mumbai. In New Delhi Air India's base is at the Indira Gandhi International Airport and in Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Another hub of Air India is situated at Chennai International Airport. Through its vast network Air India now connects 95 destinations across the globe which include 12 domestic gateways. Air India also operates one fully-owned subsidiary company named Air India Express which focuses mainly on international operations.

The foundation of the flagship carrier of India dates back to 1932. It was JRD Tata, the founder of Tata Steel, who gifted this wonderful thing to the people of India. When the airline started operation in 1932 it was known as Tata Airlines and the company was a part of the Tata Sons which is popular today as Tata Group. It was on October 15 of the year, when a single-engined De Havilland Puss Moth aircraft was flown by JRD Tata from karachi's Drigh Troad Aerodrome. The aircraft carrying airmails landed on Mumbai's (then Bombay) Juhu Airstrip via Ahmedabad. Later the aircraft continued its operation to Chennai (then Madras) via Bellary. At that time the pilot of Royal Air Force, Nevill Vincent used to operate the aircraft. After the end of World War II, Tata Airlines restored its regular operation within India and it was on July 29, 1946 that Tata Airlines was transformed into a public limited company and was named Air-India. Two years later, after the independence of the country, Government of India acquired 49 per cent of share of Air-India and granted it the status to commence international services. Thus Air-India started its international operation as Air-India International.

At present Air India operates its flight to 50 international destinations and also has code-sharing agreement with various international airlines. The airline offer three classes of service to its passengers-first class, executive class and economy class.

As far as operation of Air India in Cochin is concerned it is to be mentioned that Air India commenced its operation in Cochin from June 10, 1999 after Cochin International Airport was opened. At present Air India operates direct domestic flights from Cochin to Chennai, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram and its international wing Air India Express operates in Calicut, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
The office of Air India in Cochin is located at:
Collis Estate,
M.G.Road, Ravi Puram,
Cochin - 682016.
Tel: 0484-2381874 Resv 2351295 PTA 2381465 Mgr
Fax: 0484 2381870
Email: aicokbo@sancharnet.in