Air India

Save

AI / AIC “AIRINDIA”  India · Star Alliance

Air India at a glance

  • Who they are: Air India is the flag carrier of India, flying since 1932.
  • On the radar: look for callsign "AIRINDIA" and the code AIC, so flight AI100 shows as AIC100. Why the two differ.
  • Size: around 250 aircraft serving 100 destinations.
  • Alliance: Star Alliance member, so miles and lounges carry across partners. How alliances work.
  • Main base: New Delhi (DEL), plus 1 more hub.
250
Aircraft in fleet (approx.)
100
Destinations
1932
Founded
2
Hub airports

Fleet and destination totals are approximate reference figures, not a live aircraft registry. Deliveries, retirements, storage and leases can change the operational total between reviews.

About Air India

India's flag carrier, founded by J. R. D. Tata in 1932 and returned to Tata Group ownership in 2022 after decades of state control. It has merged with Vistara and placed a record order for 470 Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The airline is undergoing a sweeping fleet and service transformation.

Air India began in 1932 as Tata Air Lines. Founder J. R. D. Tata held India's first pilot license. He flew the opening airmail run himself. It went from Karachi to Bombay in a de Havilland Puss Moth. The airline took the Air India name in 1946. It reached London in 1948 with Lockheed Constellations. Through the 1950s and 1960s it was known around the world for luxury.

Its Maharajah mascot and ashtrays designed by Salvador Dali became symbols of an airline many called the world's finest. The government took full ownership in 1953, making Air India a state-owned company. That split international flying from domestic sister Indian Airlines. Years of state control brought decline and mounting losses. The 2007 merger with Indian Airlines deepened the crisis. Sale attempts dragged on for years.

In January 2022 Tata bought Air India back for 180 billion rupees. That returned it to its founding family after 69 years. Tata then ordered 470 Boeing and Airbus jets in 2023, later adding 100 more. Vistara was merged into Air India in November 2024. AIX Connect was folded into Air India Express. A Star Alliance member since 2014, the airline is rebuilding its fleet, cabins, and reputation.

Five Air India flights to watch

Flagship routes worth following on the live map. Flight numbers are indicative - Schedules and equipment change.

Checking live status… Comparing these flights with the latest available ADS-B snapshot.

FlightRouteTypical aircraftWhy it's notableLive statusTrack
AI101 Delhi (DEL) → New York (JFK) Boeing 777-300ER Air India's flagship nonstop to the US, a route number carrying decades of history. Checking… Track AI101 live →
AI131 Mumbai (BOM) → London (LHR) Airbus A350-900 Successor to the airline's original 1948 international route, now showcasing India's first A350s. Checking… Track AI131 live →
AI173 Delhi (DEL) → San Francisco (SFO) Boeing 777-200LR One of the world's longest flights, at times routed over the polar region for more than 15 hours. Checking… Track AI173 live →
AI126 Chicago (ORD) → Delhi (DEL) Boeing 777-300ER A marathon nonstop serving one of the largest Indian communities in North America. Checking… Track AI126 live →
AI306 Delhi (DEL) → Sydney (SYD) Boeing 787-8 Part of Air India's post-privatization push into the fast-growing India-Australia market. Checking… Track AI306 live →

The fleet

The Air India group flies about 250 aircraft and is changing fast. Long routes use Boeing 777-300ERs and 777-200LRs, 787-8 Dreamliners, and new Airbus A350-900s, India's first.

Former Vistara 787-9s joined after the merger. Smaller jets include A319s, A320neos, and A321neos, while Air India Express flies Boeing 737-800s and new 737 MAX 8s.

The 2023 order for 470 jets, plus 100 added later, covers A350s, 787s, 777Xs, A320neo-family jets, and 737 MAXs. Deliveries run into the early 2030s, alongside a billion-dollar cabin refit of older big jets. The group also chases the huge Indian diaspora market.

Facts about Air India

  • Founder J.R.D. Tata held India's first pilot license and personally flew Air India's inaugural 1932 airmail flight, then re-flew the route in 1982 aged 78.
  • Salvador Dalí designed a porcelain ashtray for Air India in 1967 and was paid with a baby elephant, which the airline flew to Spain.
  • Air India's Maharajah mascot, created in 1946, is one of the oldest airline mascots still in use.
  • The Tata Group bought Air India back in 2022, sixty-nine years after the Indian government nationalized the airline it had founded.

How to spot Air India on the live map

Air India flights use the ICAO prefix AIC - So a callsign like AIC123 is “AIRINDIA one-two-three” on the radio. Type AIC into the search box to see the airline's aircraft that are airborne right now.

Headquarters
Gurugram, India
Radio callsign
AIRINDIA
Alliance
Star Alliance
Website
www.airindia.com

Air India hub airports

DEL Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi, India BOM Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai, India

Airlines related to Air India

Comparable carriers selected by alliance, country, shared hubs and network size.

6E · IGO IndiGo India · approx. 400 aircraft NH · ANA All Nippon Airways Japan · approx. 240 aircraft AV · AVA Avianca Colombia · approx. 140 aircraft SQ · SIA Singapore Airlines Singapore · approx. 150 aircraft LH · DLH Lufthansa Germany · approx. 300 aircraft AC · ACA Air Canada Canada · approx. 350 aircraft CA · CCA Air China China · approx. 490 aircraft TK · THY Turkish Airlines Turkey · approx. 460 aircraft SU · AFL Aeroflot Russia · approx. 300 aircraft

More ways to explore Air India

Its Star Alliance membership shapes where it flies, which the alliance guide explains. Its home base is New Delhi (DEL), where you can watch its aircraft come and go. How airlines pick their routes is covered in route planning explained.

Data sources and review

Reviewed 2026-07-29 by Flight-Tracker.net Editorial Team

Fleet size, destination count and hub lists are rounded snapshots. Deliveries, storage, leases and seasonal schedules can change them between reviews.

Read our airline data sourcing and review process, or inspect the machine-readable reference dataset.

Air India frequently asked questions

How can I track Air India flights live?

Search for the ticket flight number, such as AI123, or the ICAO callsign AIC123. A flight appears live while its aircraft is broadcasting inside available receiver coverage. For official delay, cancellation, gate and booking status, confirm with Air India directly.

What is Air India's callsign?

Air India uses the radio callsign "AIRINDIA". On a flight tracker its flights appear with the ICAO prefix AIC, so flight AI123 is shown as AIC123.

What is the difference between AI and AIC?

AI is the two-letter IATA code used on tickets and booking systems. AIC is the three-letter ICAO code used by air traffic control and shown on radar and flight-tracking maps.

How many aircraft does Air India operate?

Air India operates approximately 250 aircraft serving around 100 destinations. Fleet counts change constantly as aircraft are delivered, retired or leased.

Which alliance is Air India in?

Air India is listed as a member of Star Alliance. Depending on the fare, route and loyalty program, eligible passengers may earn or redeem miles and use selected partner benefits.

Where is Air India based?

Air India is headquartered in Gurugram, India and hubs at New Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM). Its aircraft can be tracked live from any of those airport pages.

When was Air India founded?

Air India was founded in 1932, which makes it around 94 years old. Airlines of this age have usually absorbed at least one merger, so the founding date and the brand you see today are not always the same company.