Air-India Collector

  • Home
  • Site Map
  • Blog
  • Collections
    • Air-India Coasters Story Home >
      • AI Coasters Printed surfaces
      • AI Flimsy Coasters
      • AI Coasters Out of scope
      • AI Coasters Errors
      • AI Coasters Colour Interchanged
    • Tickets etc >
      • Ticket Jacket
      • Ticket Folders
      • Boarding Cards
      • Misc Material
    • Baggage Labels, Stickers & Tags >
      • Passenger Baggage
      • Freight & Cargo
    • AI Aircraft >
      • Other Early Aircraft Gallery
      • Lockheed Constellation L-749
      • Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049
      • DC-3
      • Boeing 707
      • Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet
      • Airbus A300
      • Airbus A310
      • Airbus A320
      • Airbus A330
      • DC-8 Air-India Cargo
      • Boeing 737
      • Boeing 767
      • Boeing 777
      • Lockheed L-1011 TriStar
      • Boeing 787 Dreamliner
      • Other Modern Aircraft
    • AI Timetables >
      • AI Timetables 6/1948 - 6/1954
      • AI Timetables 7/1954 - 2/1960
      • AI Timetables 3/1960 - 4/1971
      • AI Timetables 5/1971 - 1982
      • AI Timetables 1983 onwards
    • Pins & Badges etc >
      • Staff
      • Others
    • Gifts and Souvenirs >
      • Ashtray
      • Key Chains
      • Cigarette Lighters
      • Matchboxes & Matchbooks
      • Misc.
    • On Board Material >
      • On Board Reading
      • Literature Wallet
      • On Board Stationery
      • Feedback Forms
      • Safety Card
      • Wine & Spirits
      • Menu Cards
      • Other Promotional Flyers
      • In Flight Shopping
      • In Flight Entertainment
      • In Flight Announcement
      • Playing Cards
      • DND Card
      • Passenger Amenities
      • Miscellaneous
    • Publicity >
      • Advertisements >
        • Air-India International
        • Air-India
        • Air-India Cargo
      • Hoardings - Artwork
      • Other Marketing Material
    • Calendar & Diaries >
      • Wall Calendar >
        • AI Calendar 1954
        • AI Calendar 1955
        • AI Calendar 1958
        • AI Calendar 1961
        • AI Calendar 1962
        • AI Calendar 1963
        • AI Calendar 1964
        • AI Calendar 1965
        • AI Calendar 1966
        • AI Calendar 1968
        • AI Calendar 1969
        • AI Calendar 1970
        • AI Calendar 1971
        • AI Calendar 1973
        • AI Calendar 1974
        • AI Calendar 1977
        • AI Calendar 1979
        • AI Calendar 1981
        • AI Calendar 1982
        • AI Calendar 1983
        • AI Calendar 1984
        • AI Calendar 1986
        • AI Calendar 1987
        • AI Calendar 1988
        • AI Calendar 1989
        • AI Calendar 1990
        • AI Calendar 1991
        • AI Calendar 1993
        • AI Calendar 1994
        • AI Calendar 1996
        • AI Calendar 1999
        • AI Calendar 2000
        • AI Calendar 2001
        • AI Calendar 2007
        • AI Calendar 2008
        • AI Calender 2016
        • AI Calendar 2017
      • Other Calendar >
        • AI Calendar 1998
        • AI Calendar 2001
        • AI Calendar 2017
      • Diaries
    • AI Posters >
      • Air-India International Small Posters
      • Air-India International Posters
      • Air-India Country Specific Posters
      • Air-India Come India is Waiting Posters
      • Air-India Dance Posters
      • Air-India Raga Posters
      • Air-India Sports Posters
      • Air-India Other Posters
    • India Travel Posters >
      • India Travel Posters - Issued by Govt.
      • India Travel Posters - Issued by Others
      • Other Travel Posters
    • AI Postcard
    • Indian Airlines >
      • Aircraft >
        • DC-3
        • IAC Viscount
        • Caravelle
        • Boeing 737
        • Fokker F-27
        • Hawker Siddeley HS 748
        • Avro
        • Airbus A300
        • Airbus A320
      • Calendar
      • Baggage Labels, Stickers & Tags
      • Boarding Card
      • Poster
      • Publicity >
        • Advertisement
        • Other Marketing Material
      • Timetables
      • Ticket Jacket
      • Playing Cards
      • Route Map
      • Ephemera
    • Other Pre-1953 Airlines >
      • Air Assam
      • Airways (India) Ltd.
      • Ambica Airlines
      • Air France
      • Air Services of India Limited
      • Air Work India
      • Bharat Airways Ltd
      • Bhopal Aviation Ltd.
      • Bombay Flying Club Ltd.
      • Deccan Airways
      • Delhi Flying Club
      • Himalaya Airways Ltd
      • Hindustan Aircraft Ltd.
      • Indian National Airways
      • Jodhpur Flying Club
      • Juhu Aerodrome
      • Jupitor Airways Limited
      • Kalinga Airlines
      • Maharashtra State
      • Orient Airways Ltd.
      • Tata Airlines & Air-India Limited >
        • Baggage Label, Stickers & Tags
        • Aircraft
        • Tickets etc
        • TImetable
        • In Flight Announcement
        • Route Map
        • Poster
        • Stationery
        • Reports
        • Airmail Label
        • Advertisement
        • Misc.
      • Varadaraja Airways Limited
      • Civil Aviation Ephemera
    • Other Modern Airlines >
      • East West Airlines
      • Huns Air
      • Jet Airways
      • ModiLuft
      • NEPC Airlines
      • Pushpaka Airlines
      • Vayudoot Airlines
      • Modern Ephemera
    • Foreign Airlines >
      • B.O.A.C.
      • East Africa Airlines
      • Pakistan International Airlines
      • Swissair
      • Qantas
    • AI Collection >
      • Indian Masters
      • Heritage of India Series
      • Collection of Old Engravings of India
      • A Pageant of Indian Costumes
      • The Art of Raja Ravi Varma
    • AI Collectible >
      • Model Aircraft
    • AI Cargo
    • Route-Map
    • Maharajah
    • AI Exclusive
    • AI General Communication
    • Galleries >
      • JRD Tata Gallery >
        • Photo Gallery
        • Philatelic Gallery
      • Bobby Kooka Gallery
      • John Stroud Gallery
      • Picture Gallery
      • Historical Documents
  • Aerophilately
  • Resources
    • Indian Civil Aviation
    • JRD Tata & Civil Aviation
    • Early Indian Pilots
    • Air-India >
      • Books on Air-India
      • Magic Carpet
      • Annual Reports
      • Staff List & Telephone Directory
      • Operating Instructions & Forms
      • Other Publication & Publication for internal use
    • Indian Airlines
    • Philately & Aerophilately >
      • Books & Journals on Indian Aerophilately
      • Rocket Mail
      • Airship & Catapult
      • Wartime Mail
      • Great Britain Postal Office Notices
      • Indian Postal Notices etc
      • Postage Due Mail
  • Useful Links
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Site Map
  • Blog
  • Collections
    • Air-India Coasters Story Home >
      • AI Coasters Printed surfaces
      • AI Flimsy Coasters
      • AI Coasters Out of scope
      • AI Coasters Errors
      • AI Coasters Colour Interchanged
    • Tickets etc >
      • Ticket Jacket
      • Ticket Folders
      • Boarding Cards
      • Misc Material
    • Baggage Labels, Stickers & Tags >
      • Passenger Baggage
      • Freight & Cargo
    • AI Aircraft >
      • Other Early Aircraft Gallery
      • Lockheed Constellation L-749
      • Lockheed Super Constellation L-1049
      • DC-3
      • Boeing 707
      • Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet
      • Airbus A300
      • Airbus A310
      • Airbus A320
      • Airbus A330
      • DC-8 Air-India Cargo
      • Boeing 737
      • Boeing 767
      • Boeing 777
      • Lockheed L-1011 TriStar
      • Boeing 787 Dreamliner
      • Other Modern Aircraft
    • AI Timetables >
      • AI Timetables 6/1948 - 6/1954
      • AI Timetables 7/1954 - 2/1960
      • AI Timetables 3/1960 - 4/1971
      • AI Timetables 5/1971 - 1982
      • AI Timetables 1983 onwards
    • Pins & Badges etc >
      • Staff
      • Others
    • Gifts and Souvenirs >
      • Ashtray
      • Key Chains
      • Cigarette Lighters
      • Matchboxes & Matchbooks
      • Misc.
    • On Board Material >
      • On Board Reading
      • Literature Wallet
      • On Board Stationery
      • Feedback Forms
      • Safety Card
      • Wine & Spirits
      • Menu Cards
      • Other Promotional Flyers
      • In Flight Shopping
      • In Flight Entertainment
      • In Flight Announcement
      • Playing Cards
      • DND Card
      • Passenger Amenities
      • Miscellaneous
    • Publicity >
      • Advertisements >
        • Air-India International
        • Air-India
        • Air-India Cargo
      • Hoardings - Artwork
      • Other Marketing Material
    • Calendar & Diaries >
      • Wall Calendar >
        • AI Calendar 1954
        • AI Calendar 1955
        • AI Calendar 1958
        • AI Calendar 1961
        • AI Calendar 1962
        • AI Calendar 1963
        • AI Calendar 1964
        • AI Calendar 1965
        • AI Calendar 1966
        • AI Calendar 1968
        • AI Calendar 1969
        • AI Calendar 1970
        • AI Calendar 1971
        • AI Calendar 1973
        • AI Calendar 1974
        • AI Calendar 1977
        • AI Calendar 1979
        • AI Calendar 1981
        • AI Calendar 1982
        • AI Calendar 1983
        • AI Calendar 1984
        • AI Calendar 1986
        • AI Calendar 1987
        • AI Calendar 1988
        • AI Calendar 1989
        • AI Calendar 1990
        • AI Calendar 1991
        • AI Calendar 1993
        • AI Calendar 1994
        • AI Calendar 1996
        • AI Calendar 1999
        • AI Calendar 2000
        • AI Calendar 2001
        • AI Calendar 2007
        • AI Calendar 2008
        • AI Calender 2016
        • AI Calendar 2017
      • Other Calendar >
        • AI Calendar 1998
        • AI Calendar 2001
        • AI Calendar 2017
      • Diaries
    • AI Posters >
      • Air-India International Small Posters
      • Air-India International Posters
      • Air-India Country Specific Posters
      • Air-India Come India is Waiting Posters
      • Air-India Dance Posters
      • Air-India Raga Posters
      • Air-India Sports Posters
      • Air-India Other Posters
    • India Travel Posters >
      • India Travel Posters - Issued by Govt.
      • India Travel Posters - Issued by Others
      • Other Travel Posters
    • AI Postcard
    • Indian Airlines >
      • Aircraft >
        • DC-3
        • IAC Viscount
        • Caravelle
        • Boeing 737
        • Fokker F-27
        • Hawker Siddeley HS 748
        • Avro
        • Airbus A300
        • Airbus A320
      • Calendar
      • Baggage Labels, Stickers & Tags
      • Boarding Card
      • Poster
      • Publicity >
        • Advertisement
        • Other Marketing Material
      • Timetables
      • Ticket Jacket
      • Playing Cards
      • Route Map
      • Ephemera
    • Other Pre-1953 Airlines >
      • Air Assam
      • Airways (India) Ltd.
      • Ambica Airlines
      • Air France
      • Air Services of India Limited
      • Air Work India
      • Bharat Airways Ltd
      • Bhopal Aviation Ltd.
      • Bombay Flying Club Ltd.
      • Deccan Airways
      • Delhi Flying Club
      • Himalaya Airways Ltd
      • Hindustan Aircraft Ltd.
      • Indian National Airways
      • Jodhpur Flying Club
      • Juhu Aerodrome
      • Jupitor Airways Limited
      • Kalinga Airlines
      • Maharashtra State
      • Orient Airways Ltd.
      • Tata Airlines & Air-India Limited >
        • Baggage Label, Stickers & Tags
        • Aircraft
        • Tickets etc
        • TImetable
        • In Flight Announcement
        • Route Map
        • Poster
        • Stationery
        • Reports
        • Airmail Label
        • Advertisement
        • Misc.
      • Varadaraja Airways Limited
      • Civil Aviation Ephemera
    • Other Modern Airlines >
      • East West Airlines
      • Huns Air
      • Jet Airways
      • ModiLuft
      • NEPC Airlines
      • Pushpaka Airlines
      • Vayudoot Airlines
      • Modern Ephemera
    • Foreign Airlines >
      • B.O.A.C.
      • East Africa Airlines
      • Pakistan International Airlines
      • Swissair
      • Qantas
    • AI Collection >
      • Indian Masters
      • Heritage of India Series
      • Collection of Old Engravings of India
      • A Pageant of Indian Costumes
      • The Art of Raja Ravi Varma
    • AI Collectible >
      • Model Aircraft
    • AI Cargo
    • Route-Map
    • Maharajah
    • AI Exclusive
    • AI General Communication
    • Galleries >
      • JRD Tata Gallery >
        • Photo Gallery
        • Philatelic Gallery
      • Bobby Kooka Gallery
      • John Stroud Gallery
      • Picture Gallery
      • Historical Documents
  • Aerophilately
  • Resources
    • Indian Civil Aviation
    • JRD Tata & Civil Aviation
    • Early Indian Pilots
    • Air-India >
      • Books on Air-India
      • Magic Carpet
      • Annual Reports
      • Staff List & Telephone Directory
      • Operating Instructions & Forms
      • Other Publication & Publication for internal use
    • Indian Airlines
    • Philately & Aerophilately >
      • Books & Journals on Indian Aerophilately
      • Rocket Mail
      • Airship & Catapult
      • Wartime Mail
      • Great Britain Postal Office Notices
      • Indian Postal Notices etc
      • Postage Due Mail
  • Useful Links
  • Contact
The Story Air-India's Very First International Flight and later inauguration of New Route's and Introduction of Halt's.
India’s flag carrier proudly took in 1948, Air India launched its international operations to Europe. On June 8, 1948, Malabar Princess (a 40-seater Lockheed L-749 Constellation) flew over 8,047 km from Mumbai to London via Cairo and Geneva. Air India’s maiden international venture was captained by K.R. Guzdar and D.K. Jatar, and carried 35 passengers, including JRD. [P1]
The date was Tuesday, June 8, 1948 and Air India’s aircraft – Malabar Princess, a 40-seater Lockheed L-749 Constellation, registration number, VT-CQS, with Captain K.R. Guzdar in command – was in the final stages of preparation for its 5,000 mile journey from Mumbai to London via Cairo and Geneva. The flight’s time of departure was late in the evening and of the 35 passengers that were to board the flight, 29 were bound for London and six for Geneva. ​Months of meticulous planning had finally paid off. General preparations for the flight had been under way for a long time. Air India had the requisite experience of flying on domestic routes. However, some extra effort had to be put in order to fly on an international sector. Carefully selected staff members were allotted to the new operation, new staff were recruited and Air India offices were opened in Cairo, Geneva and London. The Cairo office was set up by Mr F. Nariman; Mr G. Bertoli took charge of the Geneva operations and London was headed by Mr M.A.S. Dalal where Air India had a very small set-up at London airport with the Operations and Engineering Departments housed in temporary hutments and the Traffic Department in a caravan which was parked somewhere behind the old control tower. Mr Dalal and Mr S.K. Kooka had physically tramped the streets of London for many miles looking at possible premises and hoping to secure the right ones. Ultimately they decided on 56 Haymarket for the Booking Office and 35 Curzon Street for Air India’s Administrative Office. [P2]
Picture
AI Lockheed COnstellation L-749 VT-CQP Malabar Princess
Picture
Air-India First International service route map showing (Black line) Bombay to London via Cairo and Geneva on 8th June 1948. 
In 1948 only a few airlines existed and not many countries had their own international operations. India had achieved a notable milestone, ahead of others, that night. The civil aviation industry was still in its nascent stages so aircraft were small – while the Lockheed L-749 Constellation a state-of-the-art aircraft in its time, had a seating capacity of 40 people, the state-of-the-art Boeing 747-400, operated on this route today, is a 417-seater. Aircraft also did not have the capability of flying long distances non-stop as they do today. Constellations could do 4,800 kilometres as opposed to 13,340 kilometres non-stop today. Flights, therefore had to make technical halts en route for fuelling. For Malabar Princess, Cairo and Geneva were to be such halts. [P3]

Picture
London 9th June 1948 Arrival of 1st Schedule Service from Bombay VT-CPQ Malabar Princess.
Left to Right: Capt Jatar, f/o Dhuru, Hasliss Miss McCay, R/o Sule, F/E Desouza, Chief Hasliss Miss Salway,
N/O Mani and flight Purses Ganesh.

(ex-John Stroud Collection)


 Please click on the below buttons. To know more about the Air-India International External Air Services and Introduction on new halt and Route Estension on these route.
Picture
On 8th June 1948, First Inaugural International Flight from Bombay to London via Cairo and Geneva.
8 JUNE 1948, BOMBAY TO LONDON
Picture
On 21 Jan 1950 Air-India International Inaugural Flight from Bombay to Nairobi via Aden.
21 JAN 1950, BOMBAY TO NAIROBI

Picture
On 16 July 1954 Inaugural flight to Singapore via Madras with L-749A Constellation VT-DAS on once a week basis.
16 JULY 1954, BOMBAY TO SINGAPORE
Picture
On 14 August 1954, Inaugural flight to Hong Kong via Kolkata and Bangkok.
14 AUGUST 1954, BOMBAY TO HONG KONG

Picture
On 15 August 1958, Inaugural flight from Delhi to Moscow via Tashkent on once a week basis.
15 AUGUST 1958, BOMBAY TO MOSCOW
Picture
On 4 October 1960, Introduction of a weekly Bombay to Kuwait service via Karachi and Bahrain with L1049 Super Constellations.
4 OCTOBER 1960, BOMBAY TO KUWAIT

References: [Above paragraph has been adapted from the Articles mentioned below. kindly click below link to see it.]
​
[P1] - Air-India Part -I, Airways Magazine by Maurice Wickstead on March 2016.
[P2] & [P3]- The Story of Air-India's Very First International Flight, Parsi Khabar by arZan on March 2016.
Important Copyright Notice: The information and images contained in this web-site cannot be copied or used for any purpose without permission. Copyright of some items listed here belong to other respective owners, and some belong to us, while some are from the public domain. Hence, in order to avoid future complications, please contact us for any such requirement, by clicking this link, and we will respond appropriately. Any violation of this policy, may lead to prosecution of a Civil or Criminal nature, or both, solely at the infringers risk and cost.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 © COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.