Indian Airmails

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  • Pre-1953 Airlines
    • Indian State Air Services >
      • 1929 Karachi - Delhi via Hyderabad & Jodhpur
    • Delhi Flying Club >
      • 1931 Emergency Flight by Delhi Flying Club
      • 1932 Karachi - Delhi
    • Indian Trans-Continental Airways >
      • 1933 Karachi - Calcutta >
        • 1933 Eastwards: Karachi - Calcutta
        • 1933 Westwards: Calcutta to Karachi
      • 1933 Calcutta - Rangoon via Akyab >
        • 1933 Eastwards: Calcutta - Rangoon via Akyab
        • 1933 Westwards: Rangoon - Calcutta via Akyab
      • 1933 Karachi - Singapore Extension
      • 1934 Karachi - Australia Extension
      • 1936 Rangoon - Hong Kong
    • Indian National Airways >
      • 1933 Calcutta - Dacca
      • 1933 Rangoon - Calcutta
      • 1934 Karachi - Lahore
      • 1940 Karachi - Calcutta via Lahore
      • 1939 Karachi - Delhi
      • 1947 Calcutta - Rangoon
    • Madras Air Taxi Service
    • Experimental & Survey Flights. >
      • 1931 England - Australia Flight >
        • 1st Experimental Flight
        • 2nd Experimental Flight
      • 1938 Flying Boat Coogee
    • Star Line
  • Tata Airlines
    • 1931 - Karachi - Madras: Route Survey Flight
    • 1932 - Karachi - Madras >
      • Official Southbound
      • Official Northbound
      • Other Southbound
      • Other Northbound
      • Other Material
    • 1933 - Karachi - Madras via Poona
    • 1935 Karachi - Madras via Hyderabad >
      • 1935 - Karachi - Madras via Hyderabad
      • 1935 Bombay-Hyderabad Errors on Stamp
    • 1935 - Bombay - Calcutta demonstration flight
    • 1935 - Bombay - Travancore via Goa & Cannanore
    • 1936 - Madras to Colombo via Trichinopoly
    • 1937 - First Flight to Bhuj
    • 1937 - Delhi - Bombay via Gwalior, Bhopal & Indore
    • 1938 - Karachi - Madras extension to Colombo via Trichnopoly
    • 1938 - Trichinopoly - Trivandrum extension
    • 1938 - Mansoon halt at Poona
    • 1946 - Bombay - Calcutta via Nagpur
  • Air-India
    • 1948 Air-India International Bombay - London Flight >
      • Postage Stamps - Constant Errors
      • The Postage Stamp
      • First Day Covers
      • DG's Circular & Postal Notices
      • Official Covers
      • Air-India Covers
      • Special Flight Cachet
      • Postage Rates gallery
      • Local Cancellations
      • Private Covers Gallery
      • Interesting Places of Origin & Destinations >
        • Interesting Destinations
        • Interesting Places of Origin
        • Interesting Places of Origin & Destinations
      • More interesting covers
      • Return Flight covers
      • Other Philatelic Curiosities
      • Award winning exhibit
    • 1948 - 1953 Early Route Expansion
    • 1954 - 1959 Early Route Expansion
    • 1960 - 1965 Air-India Boeing 707 Era.
    • 1966 - 1970 Air-India Boeing 707 Era.
    • 1971 - 1975 Boeing 747 & Other Aircraft Era
    • 1976 Onward Boeing 747 & Other Aircraft Era
    • Crash Mail Covers
    • Postal Meter panels
  • Indian Airlines
    • 1960 - 1964
    • 1965 - 1969
    • 1970 - 1974
    • 1975 - 1979
    • 1980 - Onward
    • Crash Mail Covers
    • Meter Panel & Stationery
  • Foreign Airlines
    • B.O.A.C. >
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Colombo August 1952
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Singapore October 1952
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Tokyo April 1953
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Sydney March 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Tokyo July 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Colombo August-September 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Tokyo April 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Singapore June 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Sydney November 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Manila November 1961
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Auckland April 1963
      • B.O.A.C. Boeing 707 London to Nandi November 1965
      • B.O.A.C. VC 10 40th Anniversary of Regular Airmail
  • Others
    • Zeppelin & Catapult >
      • LZ-10 Schwaben
      • LZ-13 Hansa
      • LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin
      • LZ-129 Hindenberg
      • LZ-130 Graf Zeppelin II
      • Catapult Mail
      • Ephemera
    • Rocket Mail >
      • Indian Rocket Mail
      • Sikkim Rocket Mail
    • Pigeon Mail
    • Balloon Mail
    • Airship R 101
    • Indian Air Force
  • Resources
  • Useful Links
  • Contact us
On 16th July, 1954 Inaugural flight Bombay to Singapore via Madras with L-749A Constellation VT-DAS on once a week basis.
Having established its credentials in Western Europe, Air-India now turned its sights eastward and, in July 1954, conducted a proving flight to Singapore prior to opening a regular weekly service via Madras. [P1]
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Timetable dated 1stJuly 1954 showing the route on inaugural flight from Bombay to Singapore vja Madras.
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Timetable  dated 1st July 1954 showing the Single, Return & Excess baggage fare charges.
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Timetable dated 1st July 1954.
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​Timetable December 1954 showing the Single, Return & Excess Bag fare charges on Bombay to Singapore route.
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AI Promotional Poster
Air-India International VT-DAS Himalayan Princess
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This is the Inaugural flight to Singapore via Madras with L-749A Constellation VT-DAS Himalayan Princess on once a week basis.

Coaster & Baggage Tag
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Air Mail cover flown on this route
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This cover was carried from Singapore to Bombay on AI 361 on 5th September 1955, and connecting from Bombay to Paris on AI 101, the same day on 5 September 1955 using a Lockheed Constellation L-749 aircraft.
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This cover was carried from Singapore to Bombay on AI 361 on 5th September 1955, and connecting from Bombay to Rome on AI 101, the same day on 5 September 1955 using a Lockheed Constellation L-749 aircraft.

On 5th October, 1956 Air-India International extended its Bombay/Singapore services to Sydney, via Madras, Singapore & Darwin.
The first flight to Australia was by Rani of Nilgiris VT-DIL.  The route was via Madras, Singapore and Darwin.  Captain H B Mistry flew to Singapore and Captain K Mathen from there to Sydney.  The first proving flight over the route left Bombay on 2 September 1956.
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Timetable December 1956 showing the route map of Bombay to Singapore services extended to Sydney via Darwin on 5th October 1956.
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Flight schedule from timetable December 1956, showing the Arrival and depature time on Bombay to Singapore route extended to Sydney via Darwin
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AI Poster
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AI Timetable December 1956.
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Fare charges from timetable December 1956 showing SIngle, Return & Excess baggage charges on Bombay to Singapore route which extended to Sydney via Darwin.

AI International Offices
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Air Mail cover flown on Bombay to SIngapore, route extended to Sydney via Darwin 5 October 1956.
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Ordinary envelope with the BY AIR MAIL etiquette, and 4a postage stamp (2nd class rate) tied with a BOMBAY GPO, 5 OCT 56, postal cancellation mark. Alsoon the front is a boxed rectangular cachet in violet 5 OCT 1956, AIR INDIA INTERNATIONAL, INAUGURAL FLIGHT, INDIA - AUSTRALIA.
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The Bombay - Singapore weekly service was launched on 16 July 1954 via Madras with a L-749 A constellation. Now on 5 October 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin. Air-India souvenir cover cancelled Madras G.P.O. Oct 56, and boxed first flight cachet in black.
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The Bombay - Singapore weekly service was launched on 16 July 1954 via Madras with a L-749 A constellation.
Now, on 5 october 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin.
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Insert for the cover flown from Rome - Bombay and then on the inaugural Bombay - Sydney flight.
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The Bombay - Singapore weekly service was launched on 16 July 1954 via Madras with a L-749 A constellation.
Now, on 5 october 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin. This Air-India cover was flown from Rome to Bombay on the London - Bombay service, and onwards wo Sydney on the inaugural flight.
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Cover posted in Sydney on 8 June 1956, and flown to Bombay on the return flight, and then onwards to London. Air Mail cover with special design printed on it.

On 4th January, 1958 Jakarta introduced as a regular halt between Singapore and Darwin on Sydney route.
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Timetbale 15th January 1958, showing the route map on Bombay to Sydney, via Singapore, Jakarta and Darwin.
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AI Timetable dated 15th January 1958.
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AI timetable dated 15th January 1958 showing flight schedule on Bombay to Sydney route.

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AI International Offices
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Timetable 15th January 1958 showing the Single, Return & Excess Baggage fare charges on Bombay to Sydney route.
AI Coaster
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First Boeing 707 Flight on Bombay - Sydney route
7 May 1962

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Boeing 707s were introduced on the Sydney route with the service operating via Bangkok instead of via Madras.
Withdrawal of Super Constellation from scheduled operations.
The cover bears the autograph of Capt. S F Pedder.
(Image Courtesy: Mr. Harsh Gupta, The Rudraksha Collection)
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Boeing 707s were introduced on the Sydney route with the service operating via Bangkok instead of via Madras.
​Withdrawal of Super Constellation from scheduled operations.
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Boeing 707s were introduced on the Sydney route with the service operating via Bangkok instead of via Madras.
​Withdrawal of Super Constellations from scheduled operations.
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Flight Information Card

First Boeing 707 Flight on Sydney - Bombay route
9 May 1962

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Boeing 707s were introduced on the Sydney route with the service operating via Bangkok instead of via Madras.
​Withdrawal of Super Constellation from scheduled operations.
This cover was flown on the return flight.
The cover bears the autograph of Capt. S F Pedder
Picture
Picture
Boeing 707s were introduced on the Sydney route with the service operating via Bangkok instead of via Madras.
​Withdrawal of Super Constellation from scheduled operations.
This cover was flown on the return flight.

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The postcard was flown from India to Germany especially for the Leipzig autumn fair, 1962. The front side of the cover bears the cachet SONDERFLUGVERKEHR LEIPZIGER HERBSTMESSE 1962. Postmarked DELHI G.P.O. - 6, 1-9-62.
​
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First Boeing 707 Flight on Bombay -Sydney route via Perth
1 October 1962
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Perth was introduced on the Sydney route as a scheduled halt instead of Darwin which was a technical halt.
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Perth was introduced on the Sydney route as a scheduled halt instead of Darwin which was a technical halt.
This cover is postmarked 17 October 62, which is 2 weeks after the date of the first flight. Intresting postal marks of the front and reverse of the cover. Unlikely to have been flown on the first flight.

First Boeing 707 Flight on Sydney - Bombay route via Perth
3 October 1962
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Picture
Perth was introduced on the Sydney route as a scheduled halt instead of Darwin which was a technical halt.
​This cover was flown on the return flight.
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Perth was introduced on the Sydney route as a scheduled halt instead of Darwin which was a technical halt.
This cover was flown on the return flight.

First Boeing 707 Direct Flight on Geneva - Sydney Sector
Flight on 1 April 1963
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This is the commemorative Air-India cover issued for the direct flight on 1 April 1963.
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.
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