<P> Air India is the flag carrier airline of India . It is owned by Air India Limited, a government - owned enterprise, and operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft serving 90 domestic and international destinations . The airline has its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, alongside several focus cities across India . Air India is the largest international carrier out of India with an 18.6% market share . Over 60 international destinations are served by Air India across four continents . Additionally, the carrier is the third largest domestic airline in India in terms of passengers carried (after IndiGo and Jet Airways) with a market share of 13.5% as of July 2017 . The airline became the 27th member of Star Alliance on 11 July 2014 . </P> <P> The airline was founded by J.R.D. Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932; Tata himself flew its first single - engine de Havilland Puss Moth, carrying air mail from Karachi to Bombay's Juhu aerodrome and later continuing to Madras (currently Chennai). After World War II, it became a public limited company and was renamed as Air India . On 21 February 1960, it took delivery of its first Boeing 707 named Gauri Shankar and became the first Asian airline to induct a jet aircraft in its fleet . In 2000--01, attempts were made to privatise Air India and from 2006 onwards, it suffered losses after its merger with Indian Airlines . </P> <P> Air India also operates flights to domestic and Asian destinations through its subsidiaries Alliance Air and Air India Express . Air India's mascot is the Maharajah (Emperor) and the logo consists of a flying swan with the wheel of Konark inside it . </P> <P> Air India had its origin as Tata Air Services later renamed to Tata Airlines founded by J.R.D. Tata of Tata Sons, an Indian aviator and business tycoon . In April 1932, Tata won a contract to carry mail for Imperial Airways and the aviation department of Tata Sons was formed with two single - engine de Havilland Puss Moths . On 15 October 1932, Tata flew a Puss Moth carrying air mail from Karachi to Bombay (currently Mumbai) and the aircraft continued to Madras (currently Chennai) piloted by Nevill Vintcent, a former Royal Air Force pilot and friend of Tata . The airline fleet consisted of a Puss Moth aircraft and a de Havilland Leopard Moth . Initial service included weekly airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Ahmedabad and Bombay . In its first year of operation, the airline flew 160,000 miles (260,000 km), carrying 155 passengers and 9.72 tonnes (10.71 tons) of mail and made a profit of ₹ 60,000 (US $940). </P>

Maharaja is the mascot of which indian organisation