Bombay (now Mumbai), 8 June 1948 (Retrospective): In a defining moment for Indian civil aviation, Air-India International Corporation launched its first international commercial flight on 8 June 1948. The aircraft, a Lockheed L-749 Super Constellation named Malabar Princess, was captained by K.R. Guzder and carried 35 passengers on board.
The historic flight departed from Bombay (now Mumbai, Maharashtra) and flew to London, UK, with scheduled stops in Cairo, Egypt, and Geneva, Switzerland. This milestone marked India’s formal entry into global aviation, just months after gaining independence.
The elegant Malabar Princess, with its advanced design and long-range capabilities, symbolized modernity and aspiration. Operated under the newly formed Air-India International, the flight laid the foundation for India’s presence in the international skies and initiated a legacy of long-haul connectivity that would grow in the decades to come.
Today, the 8th of June is celebrated as a landmark in the timeline of Indian aviation, commemorating the bold vision that put India on the global aviation map.
