AirAsia India Airbus A320 VT-JRT in JRD Tata livery. Airline image.
AirAsia India Airbus A320 VT-JRT in JRD Tata livery. Airline image.

AirAsia India continues tradition, paints fourth aircraft in homage to JRD Tata

March 23, 2015 3 Comments 699 Views

AirAsia India has painted its fourth Airbus A320 aircraft with a special livery in homage to JRD Tata, considered the father of Indian civil aviation in the Indian sub-continent. The aircraft bears the registration VT-JRT (Jehangir Ratanji (Dadabhoy) Tata) and has been named ‘The Pioneer’.

The livery feature a portrait of JRD Tata with the Puss Moth, the aircraft he flew on October 15, 1932, which resulted in the birth of Tata Airlines which was nationalised in to Air India.

The aircraft was unveiled at GMR Aero Technic, Shamshabad airport, by Mittu Chandilya, CEO, AirAsia India in the presence of Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia, S. Ramadorai, Non-Executive Chairman of AirAsia India, and Ratan N. Tata , Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, the joint venture partner in AirAsia India.

S Ramadorai, Ratan Tata, Tony Fernandes and Mitu Chandilya with AirAsia staff
S Ramadorai, Ratan Tata, Tony Fernandes and Mitu Chandilya with AirAsia staff

AirAsia has a tradition of painting many of its aircraft in special liveries. In 2010, we took this picture of 9M-AFY in the Formula 1 Team Lotus livery.

AirAsia A320 9M-AFY painted in Formula 1 Team Lotus livery. 2010. Bangalore Aviation photo.
AirAsia A320 9M-AFY painted in Formula 1 Team Lotus livery. 2010. Bangalore Aviation photo.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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3 comments

  1. Suraj
    March 23, 2015 at 20:54

    The irony is that airasia has done it, don’t you guys think that vistara was more approprite for this? Just Saying though.

    • SSN
      March 26, 2015 at 03:20

      @Suraj Not really. This is a great PR strategy. An India based airline, AirAsia India, is paying tribute to JRD Tata who is considered to be the father of Indian civil aviation. Actually, there would be less “wow” factor If Vistara had chosen to do this.

      • Suraj
        March 26, 2015 at 18:14

        @SSN Thanks a ton for clearing that up, I felt you’re bang on with the “WOW” thing.

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