Difference Between Air India and Indian Airlines

Although both Air India and Indian Airlines are national carriers of India, they show some differences between them. Indian Airlines is an important airline based in Mumbai. It primarily focuses on domestic routes. But it provides routes to some important countries too within Asia. Indian Airlines is governed by the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Air India on the other hand focuses primarily on international routes. It is the oldest and largest airline of the Republic of India. It is interesting to note that Air India belongs to the National Aviation Company of India Limited. The routes of Air India include countries such as North America, Europe and Asia.

Indian Airlines is owned completely by the Government of India. As a matter of fact the aircraft of Indian Airlines was mainly white with the belly painted in light metallic grey. A new livery was released by the Government of India in 2007.

Air India has two major domestic hubs at Indira Gandhi International Airport and Chhatrapathi Shivaji International Airport. Indian Airlines on the other hand has secondary hubs at Chennai International Airport and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Calcutta.

‘Flying Returns’ is the frequent flyer program of the Indian Airlines as well as Air India. ‘Your Palace in the Sky’ is the company slogan of Air India. ‘Have You Tried the New Air India’ is the company slogan of Indian Airlines.

The parent company of Indian Airlines is the National Aviation Company of India Limited. The parent company of Air India too is NACIL. The subsidiary of Indian Airlines is Air India Regional whereas the subsidiaries of Air India are Air India Cargo, Air India Express and Indian.

It is important to note that Air India was founded in 1932. On the other hand the Indian Airlines was founded in 1953.