Project Report
Project Report
Supervised by
Name of the supervisor: Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Srivastaw
Name of the College: Barasat College
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Annexure-1
Supervisor’s Certificate
Signature:
Name: SANJEEV KUMAR SRIVASTAW
Place: Barasat Designation: Associate Professor
Date: Name of the College: Barasat College
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Annexure-2
Student’s Declaration
I hereby declare that the Project Work with the title STUDY ON
AVIATION SECTOR OF INDIA submitted by me for the partial fulfillment
of the degree of B.Com. Honours in Accounting & Finance / Marketing
under the West Bengal State University, Barasat is my original work and
has not been submitted earlier to any other University / Institution for
the fulfillment of the requirement for any course of study.
Signature:
Name: TAPTI SHARMA
Address: Salika, Howrah-711106
Place: Howrah Registration No.: 1052221502369
Date: Roll No.: 08
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ACKNOWLEDGEMNT
Signature of Student
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CONTENTS
SL NO. PARTICULARS PAGE NO.
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
CHAPTER 5 Bibliography
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CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
As there are many aviation sector in India but this project is all based
on the particular sector of India that is Air India.
1.1BACKGROUND
Air India is the flag carrier airline of India, headquartered in New Delhi.
Established in 1932 by J.R.D. Tata as Tata Airlines, it was later renamed
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Air India in 1946. It became a government-owned airline in 1953 and
operated under the state-run entity for several decades before being
privatized in 2022, returning to the Tata Group.
Air India plays a crucial role in India's aviation industry and continues to
modernize its fleet and services under Tata Group ownership, aiming to
regain its position as a world-class airline.
One of the first major steps taken by the Tata Group was the
appointment of Campbell Wilson as CEO in June 2022, along with other
senior executives from Singapore Airlines and other leading global
carriers. This leadership overhaul was aimed at bringing in fresh
strategies and expertise to revamp Air India’s operations. A key area of
focus was improving customer experience, which had suffered over the
years. The airline worked on enhancing in-flight services, revamping
cabin crew training, and prioritizing on-time performance.
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Additionally, efforts were made to upgrade aging aircraft interiors, an
issue that had been a major source of passenger dissatisfaction.
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1953: The Government of India nationalized Air India along with
other domestic airlines under the Air Corporations Act, making it
the country's official flag carrier.
In2021, Tata Sons, the original founder of Air India, successfully bid
₹18,000 crore ($2.4 billion) to acquire the airline.
Government Initiatives
Privatization and Ownership Transfer
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management practices. Post-privatization, Air India has embarked on
an ambitious overhaul to reclaim its position as a leading global airline.
Operational Enhancements
Air India has focused on improving its cabin products through new
deliveries, leases, and retrofit programs. Efforts include upgrading
existing aircraft interiors and enhancing customer service standards.
The airline is also investing in training and maintenance facilities to
support its expansion plans.
Industry Collaborations
Air India is India’s flag carrier and plays a crucial role in connecting
domestic and international destinations.
Studying its operations helps understand its contribution to the
aviation industry, tourism, and trade.
Impact of Privatization
Air India has historically faced financial losses, and studying the
restructuring strategies, including cost-cutting measures, fleet
expansion, and revenue generation tactics, is crucial.
Understanding whether the Tata Group’s management can turn
Air India into a profitable venture is an area of interest.
1.5 LIMITATION
• Political Environment
Air India has faced several limitations in the political environment,
primarily due to historical government control and regulatory
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challenges. For decades, excessive government interference led to
inefficiencies in decision-making, route selection, and pricing strategies,
often prioritizing political interests over profitability. The delayed
privatization process further hampered its ability to operate
competitively, as frequent policy shifts created uncertainty in its long-
term planning. Furthermore, diplomatic relations and geopolitical
tensions affected its international operations, sometimes leading to
restrictions on air routes and higher operational costs. Although the
Tata Group’s acquisition of Air India has reduced direct political
interference, the airline still operates within a regulated environment
where policy decisions and global political factors continue to impact its
growth and competitiveness.
• Economic Environment
Air India faces several limitations in the economic environment that
impact its operational efficiency and profitability. High operational
costs, driven by rising fuel prices, expensive aircraft maintenance, and
airport fees, make it difficult to sustain competitive pricing. The airline
also struggled with a massive debt burden, exceeding ₹60,000 crore
before privatization, leading to frequent government bailouts and
financial instability. Intense competition from low-cost carriers like
IndiGo and SpiceJet, along with international airlines such as Emirates
and Qatar Airways, further pressures Air India to improve efficiency and
service quality. Macroeconomic factors like inflation, economic
slowdowns, and currency fluctuations also affect its cost structure and
revenue streams. Additionally, the airline has historically relied heavily
on government policies and subsidies, limiting its financial
independence.
•Social Environment
Air India faces several limitations in the social environment that impact
its reputation, customer satisfaction, and workforce management.
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Historically, the airline has struggled with a negative brand perception
due to inconsistent service quality, frequent delays, and outdated
aircraft interiors. Changing consumer preferences, especially among
younger travelers who prefer budget airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet,
have further reduced its market appeal. Additionally, customer
expectations for high-quality service and seamless digital experiences
have increased, but Air India has lagged behind in adopting modern
customer service technologies.
•Technological Environment
Air India faces significant limitations in the technological environment,
which affect its efficiency and competitiveness. One of the major
challenges is its outdated IT infrastructure, with legacy booking systems
and reservation platforms that are prone to glitches, making it less
seamless compared to global airlines. The airline’s fleet also relies on
older aircraft models, which are less fuel-efficient and require frequent
maintenance, placing it behind competitors who have adopted newer,
more technologically advanced planes. Additionally, Air India’s digital
presence, including its website and mobile app, lags behind, offering a
less user-friendly experience than the streamlined digital interfaces of
other carriers. The airline has also been slow to embrace AI and
automation for things like personalized customer service and predictive
maintenance, which are widely used by competitors to enhance
operational efficiency. Furthermore, Air India faces cybersecurity risks,
having experienced data breaches in the past, which highlight the need
for better security measures.
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1.6 REASEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN:-
TYPE OF RESEARCH
There are so many types of research but we mostly use i.e.
Exploratory Research
Descriptive Research
DATA COLLECTION
SECONDARY RESEARCH
The secondary data means the data which is available publicly and can
be used for the study. The data is secondary data and it is collected
from the financial statements, the annual report of the company, some
books and the website of the company.
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CHAPTER 2:
CONCEPTUAL
FRAMEWORK/NA
TIONAL/
INTERNATIONAL
SCENARIO
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2.1 Overview
MARKET STRUCTURE
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Interdependence among Competitors: Pricing, flight schedules,
and routes are influenced by competitors like IndiGo and Vistara.
Economies of Scale: Being a large airline, Air India benefits from
cost efficiencies in fleet management, maintenance, and
operations.
Future Prospects
Fleet Expansion: Air India is investing in new aircraft (Airbus &
Boeing orders) to enhance service quality and network reach.
Strategic Partnerships: Star Alliance membership boosts its
global connectivity.
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Digital and Service Upgrades: Enhancing in-flight experience and
loyalty programs to attract premium customers.
Entry Barriers-
Additionally, the stringent government regulations related to aviation
safety, licensing, and foreign ownership create further obstacles.
Another major challenge is airport slot availability, as prime slots at
key airports like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru are already occupied by
established airlines, limiting new entrants' access to profitable routes.
Economies of scale also play a crucial role, as larger airlines like Air
India benefit from cost advantages in operations, maintenance, and
fuel procurement, making it hard for smaller competitors to match
their pricing. Furthermore, brand recognition and customer loyalty
programs give Air India an edge, as passengers often prefer trusted and
established airlines over new entrants. The intense price competition
from low-cost carriers like IndiGo and SpiceJet further discourages new
players, as operating profitably in such a competitive environment is
challenging. Lastly, technological and service differentiation, such as
premium international services and alliances like Star Alliance, create
another barrier by making it harder for new entrants to offer
comparable services.
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price setter in certain segments. With its merger with Vistara and
strategic expansion under Tata Group, Air India can influence ticket
pricing, especially in long-haul international routes and premium cabin
classes where competition is limited. However, in the domestic market,
it faces strong competition from low-cost airlines like IndiGo and Akasa
Air, requiring it to balance competitive pricing with service
differentiation. While Air India does not have absolute pricing power,
its strategic position, government ties, and network expansion enable it
to set prices within a competitive range rather than being a pure price
taker.
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OPEN SKIES POLICY:-
Meaning:-
It means unrestricted access by any carrier into the sovereign territory
of a country without any written agreement specifying capacity , ports
of call or schedule of service.In other words an open skies policy would
allow the foreign airline of any country or ownership to land at any port
on any number of occasion & with unlimited seat capacity.
Need:-
In order to promote Travel & Tourism, India should adopt an open skies
policy. The current policy restricts the access of foreign airlines.As a
result potential tourist are not offered a choice of airline or seats when
travelling to india.The situation get worse during Holiday season when
it is difficult to get a seat either into the country or out of it.
MARKET OPPORTUNITIES:
India’s aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world
due to increasing disposable incomes and rising middle-class
travelers.
Increasing business and leisure travel between India and major
global destinations presents an opportunity to expand
international operations.
Tata Group’s investment in Air India includes fleet modernization,
improving fuel efficiency and passenger experience.
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Leveraging major hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to
connect domestic and international passengers efficiently.
Enhancing in-flight experience, lounges, and loyalty programs
(Flying Returns) to compete with global airlines.
Dedicated freighter services and partnerships with logistics
companies can increase revenue streams.
Implementing AI-driven customer service, online booking
enhancements, and personalized travel experiences.
Air India’s entry into the Star Alliance network allows it to
collaborate with international airlines for seamless connectivity.
Investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon offset
programs can attract environmentally conscious travelers.
BILATERAL TREATIES:-
Bilateral treaties play a crucial role in Air India’s international
operations by facilitating air service agreements between India and
other countries. These treaties, known as Bilateral Air Services
Agreements (BASAs), enable Air India to operate scheduled flights to
various international destinations, ensuring access to foreign markets
while promoting connectivity and trade. Under these agreements, both
countries negotiate the number of flights, routes, capacity, and
regulatory conditions, allowing Air India to expand its global presence.
Additionally, these treaties help in securing landing rights, traffic rights,
and code-sharing opportunities with foreign airlines, enhancing
passenger convenience and airline profitability. As India continues to
strengthen its global aviation partnerships, Air India benefits from
increased operational flexibility, route expansion, and enhanced
competitiveness in the international aviation market.
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Indian Bilateral Treaties
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FACTOR INPUTS:
Air India fares are among the highest in the world. For instance, a
typical Delhi-Banglore round trip costs Rs 12,000 – the same as it would
from Delhi to Singapore.
Fuel Costs.
Aviation fuel prices are a major operational expense.
Fluctuations in crude oil prices impact ticket prices.
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Competition
Pricing strategies of competitors (IndiGo, Vistara, Emirates,
etc.) impact Air India's ticket prices.
Budget airlines may force competitive pricing.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC:
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Fiscal Year 2022-23: Air India carried approximately 18.5 million
passengers, marking a substantial recovery and growth compared to
previous years.
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