The group of ministers to be formed to look into Air India privatisation will also decide whether the airline needs a new name once it is sold. Air India’s brand is also likely to carry huge valuation, according to senior officials at the airline. Tata Airlines went public and became a joint-stock company in 1946 and was called Air India Ltd.On June 8, 1948, Air India International, with the famous Maharaja as its mascot, spread its wings to Europe. In 1953, a profitable Air India was nationalised though J.R.D. In 2000, the Vajpayee government cleared a proposal to disinvest its stake in both Air India and Indian Airlines.

Source: Mint June 29, 2017 17:26 UTC