Indian Airlines was under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation with its headquarters in New Delhi. Its main bases were the international airports in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi. It focused mainly on domestic routes, along with numerous international services to neighbouring countries in Asia. The airline operated closely with Air India.

History of Indian Airlines
Indian Airlines was rebranded as Indian for advertising ideas as a part of a program to restore its image in preparation for an original public offering on 7th December 2005. The airline was set up under the Air Corporations Act, 1953 and opened operations on 1st August 1953. It was a domestic airline service owned by the Government of India but the Government of India announced that it would be merged into Air India. As a part of the combination development, a new company called the "National Aviation Company of India Limited" which is now called "Air India Limited" was founded. Both Air India along with Air India Express and Alliance Air would be merged. Air India took over international courses and Indian Airlines Corporation (IAC) took over the domestic and regional routes.

Eight pre-Independence domestic airlines, Deccan Airways, Airways India, Bharat Airways, Himalayan Aviation, Kalinga Airlines, Indian National Airways and Air Services of India and the Domestic wing of Air India, were combined to form the new domestic national carrier Indian Airlines Corporation. An international operation of Air India Ltd was taken over by the lately formed Air India International. Indian Airlines Corporation inherited a task force of 99 aircraft with 74 Douglas DC-3 Dakotas, 12 Vickers Vikings, 3 Douglas DC-4s and different smaller types from the seven airlines that made it up.

Till 2005, Indian Airlines was the second largest airline in India after Jet Airways. Another Government established regional feeder airline called "Vayudoot" was merged with Indian Airlines in 1993. It functioned until 1997, after which its complete flight operations were transferred to Indian Airlines and its employees absorbed into Indian Airlines and Air India. Indian ceased operating under its own brand and codes with the merger with Air India being complete on 26th February 2011.

Types of Indian Airlines
Types of Indian Airlines are The PSU in Aviation sector namely Air India and Pawan Hans. Listed companies in India`s aviation sector are SpiceJet, IndiGo Airlines, Jet Lite, Air India Express and Jet Airways. Major Private Players are GoAir, Air Asia, Vistara and IndiGo.