Re-branded as "Indian" from the more traditional "Indian Airlines" this is the grandfather of all Indian domestic carriers. Still state owned, but heading for an IPO or a merger with Air India, Indian airlines was there before the current explosion of low cost carriers and will still be there once the big bang has started contracting and the number of new airlines decreases as they merge or fail.
Indian Domestic Flights
With over 70 aircraft in the fleet and more jets on order Indian is, by any standards, a major airline.
Its strength lies in the large number of destinations it serves within India and its capability to offer cities and towns outside the trunk routes between Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Outside of India its core business is taking Indian workers to the major cities of the Gulf.
For adventurers, mountaineers and trekkers Indian airlines also provide a back door route into Nepal with daily services from Delhi, Kolkata and Varanasi.
Indian Airlines
On all Indian aircraft the word "Indian" is painted in Hindi on the left side of the aircraft.
Alternative View
Indian Airlines Flights
With over 19,000 employees producing around 3500 seats per day to 70 domestic and 16 international destinations this is an organisation of staggering complexity. Particularly when you understand the Indian mentality of appearing to obey a rule driven bureaucracy but in reality being subservient to the power of personal relationships.
However times are changing and the power of competition is forcing Indian to become a modern airline - even when it operates to airfields where grazing cows invade the runway.
UPDATE:
The merger of Air India and Indian Airlines will see a new design for their logo and livery, which will merge some of the current features of both airlines.
The logo of the new airline is a Flying Swan with the Konark Chakra placed inside it. The Flying Swan has been morphed from Air India’s characteristic logo, ‘The Centaur’ whereas the ‘Konark Chakra’ is reminiscent of Indian’s logo. While the aircraft will be ivory in colour, the base will retain the red streak of Air India. Running parallel to each other will be the Orange and Red speed lines from front door to the rear door.
