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]
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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]
AI Lockheed COnstellation L-749 VT-CQP Malabar Princess
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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]
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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)
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)
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