Importance of first airmail in INDIA ?

Answer 1

India has an eminent position in the civil aviation sector with a large fleet of aircrafts. In all, 56 airlines are operating scheduled air services to and through India and 22 foreign airlines are over flying Indian territory. There are over 450 airports and 1091 registered aircrafts in the country. In addition to the three public sector airlines Air India, Indian Airlines, Alliance Air – there are two private operators – Jet Airways, Sahara India Airlines. There are also 41 non-scheduled air transport operators. Additionally 34 applicants have been granted NOC by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for setting up non scheduled air transport operation. Air Transport has a significant role to play in a vast country like India with major industrial and commercial centres located far apart.
India has the distinction of organising the first flight by an aeroplane in the world. That was in February 1911. This airmail flight piloted by French pilot M. Picquet flew from Allahabad to Naini. However, it took more than 20 years for the country to have its own airline. In October 15, 1932, Tata Son’s Ltd – which later become Air India International – commenced weekly airmail service with a Puss Moth aircraft between Karachi and Madras via Ahmedabad and Bombay, covering over 1,300 miles. Later two more airlines – Indian National Airways in 1933 and Air Services of Indian in 1937 came up.
The Government nationalised the airlines industry in 1953, with enactment of Air Corporation Act, and assets of nine existing air companies were transferred to the two new corporation – Air India International and the Indian Airlines. After 40 years, in 1994 Air Corporation Act was repealed ending the monopoly of the national air corporations and enabling entry of private operators.
The liberalisation in civil aviation industry began in 1986 with the introduction if Air Taxi system to boost development of tourism. Though there were several restrictions relating to seat capacity, airports, timing and fare, the scheme was liberalised over a period of time. Even the fare was totally deregulated, allowing air taxi operators to charge any fare. With Open Sky Policy many private operators began operation in the domestic sector. The carriage increased from a modest 15,000 passengers in 1990 to more than 0.4 million in 1992. Of the total of 12.23 million passengers carried on domestic sector, private carriers carried about 5.7 million passengers.
The civil aviation industry got a major boost with the announcement of Airport Infrastructure Policy in November, 1997 which envisages development of international hubs and regional hubs to provide a hub and spoke arrangement connecting all airports. Under the policy, infrastructure development of airport has been opened up for public and private participation. It allows 74% foreign equity participation in the airport infrastructure with automatic approval and 100 % equity on case-to-case basis.
A new policy on domestic air transport has also been evolved. Salient features are :-
40% foreign equity participation in domestic airlines,
100% equity participation for NRIs/Overseas Corporate Bodies.
Foreign airline equity, either directly or indirectly is not permissible.
Operators to have freedom to determine fares for each sector.
Domestic carriers to be allowed to fly international routes.
There has been phenomenal increase in the volume of air traffic both domestic and international over last two decades. During the last 25 years, domestic air traffic has registered an annual growth of 10 per cent and Air India traffic registered an annual growth rate of over 12%.
The Civil Aviation infrastructure has shown a remarkable growth in the past couple of decades. Airline industry also holds key to the progress of inaccessible region of North-East. This area which has very little ground transport infrastructure is heavily dependent on air transport. IATT has been exempted on the routes within North-Eastern region. Guwahati will be made a regional hub. Upgradation facilities are being done on a large scale. Five airports in the region have been installed with Night Landing Facilities.

Answer 2

Importance of first mail is that JRD Tata flew the aircraft himself from Karachi to Mumbai and brought the first ever mail by air.

Later this private airline was acquired by our government...and was named AIR INDIA...that's why this episode has significance.

Answer 3

Yes.