THIS is India’s first airport, played key role during World War 2, has a Ratan Tata connection; its located in…, was built by…
Juhu Aerodrome: India boasts the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, with a total of a 487 airports and airstrips serving the country’s 1.4 billion population. But did you know that India’s first airport was established less than a century years ago? Let us delve into the unique history of India’s first airport that played a vital role during the Second World War.
Which is India’s first airport?
The Juhu Aerodrome, also known as the Vile Parle Aviation Club, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which was established in 1928 as a private airstrip, holds the distinction of being India’s first airport. The airstrip was later turned into a commercial airport, with he first flight landing here in 1932, when Tata Group founder and aviation pioneer JRD Tata– the great grandfather of Ratan Tata– flew on the inaugural flight from Karachi to Mumbai.
“JRD Tata was 15 when he took a joyride in a plane in France, and decided he would become a pilot. In 1932, he pioneered the aviation industry in India, when he set off on the inaugural flight from Karachi to Bombay,” reads a snippet on Tata Group’s official website.
What role did Juhu Aerodrome play during World War II?
According to historical record, the Juhu Aerodrome reportedly played a critical role during World War II, serving as the primary airbase for military operations launched from Mumbai.
The Juhu Aerodrome also served as the base for India’s first commercial airline, Tata Airlines, which was rechristened as Air India after being acquired the Indian government. However, the Tata Group, then under the leadership of its Chairman Emeritus, late Ratan Tata, reacquired the airline in 2022.
The aerodrome served as India’s primary airport for quite a while before bigger, more modern airports like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, were developed. Today, the Juhu Aerodrome is no longer used for commercial flights, and serves as a base for VIP movements.