Ratan Tata; 'JRD would have been overjoyed, welcome back Air India'

Ratan Tata tweeted,"Welcome back Air India" as the national carrier comes back into the Tata hangar after 68 years. Tata admitted that though this sale is emotionally a big moment "it would take a considerable amount to rebuild the prestige of the airline."

The airline was founded by J.R.D. as Tata Airlines in 1932, with a capital of Rs 2 lakh given by a reluctant Sir Dorabji Tata, the then chairman of Tata Sons. The initial service offered a weekly airmail service between Karachi and Madras via Ahmedabad and Bombay.

In 1946, the aviation division of Tata Sons was listed as Air India and in 1948, Air India International was launched with flights to Europe.

Post-independence in 1948, the Indian government bought a 49 percent stake in the airline to finally acquire the airline from J.R.D. Tata in 1953.

J.R.D however continued to be at the helm for Air India till 1977 accepting only Re 1 a year as salary.

And as the current Chairman (Emeritus) of the salt-to-software conglomerate tweeted, It would have overjoyed the original pilot of the airline, JRD Tata to know that Air India is back home.