Indian Airlines, formed in 1953 as a public sector undertaking, is now a Rs. 110 crore enterprise. Employing about 15,000 people, its operations stretch all  over India from Srinagar in the North to Trivandrum in the South, from Mohanbari and Imphal in the East  to Porbandar  in the West. It is also now possible to travel from one end of the sub-continent to  the  other  by  air  the same  day.

Indian Airlines, a member of the International Air Transport Association, has kept pace with the advances in aviation technology. Starting with Dakotas and Skymasters, the airline has progressively modernised its fleet which now consists of  12 Boeing  737s,  5 Caravelles,  8 F-7s, 2 Viscounts, 15 HS-748s and 2 Airbus A300 B2 aircraft (one more is expected to join the fleet in January, 1977). Jet era dawned on India with the introduction of Caravelles in 1963. These efficient  medium-sized  jets  reduced  the flying time considerably. Modernisation and  xpansion  continued  and  1970 saw the induction of Boeing 737s  on the airline's network.

With its natural beauty, historical monuments, art and culture, India attracts a large number of tourists year after year. Nearly half a million came in 1975. Almost 85 per cent  of the tourists who visit India travel by Indian Airlines. The passenger traffic today is over 10,000 per day.

With the entry of the airline into the exclusive wide-body club, Indian Airlines is the first airline in Asia to introduce the wide-body jet on domestic routes. The induction of Airbus A300 B2 on Indian Airlines network from December 1, 1976 will herald a new era in the history of Indian Civil Aviation. The faster and quieter 278-seater Airbus powered by two CF6-50 engines will fly on the trunk routes serving our passengers between Bombay­-Delhi, Bombay-Calcutta, Bombay-Madras, Bombay-Bangalore and Delhi-Calcutta. With a normal complement of passengers the Airbus will also carry 10 tonnes  of cargo on each flight., The induction of this aircraft will stimulate growth of the economy and help speedy development of the hinterland.

The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department feels privileged to bring out a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the  introduction  of Airbus.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India