JRD Tata founded Tata Airlines in the year 1932 with two aircraft as a fleet. Tata Airlines won a contract to carry mail for Imperial Airways. Passionate about flying, JRD as he was fondly called, frequently flew a single-engine de Havilland Puss Moth, a British three-seater high-wing monoplane. Post-WWII, regular commercial service was restored in India, and in 1946 Tata Airlines became a public limited company under the brand name Air India. In 1953, the Government of India purchased a majority stake in the carrier from Tata Sons and passed the Air Corporations Act, thus nationalising the airline. JRD remained chairman of Tata Sons until 1977. The company was rechristened Air India International Limited, and domestic services were transferred to Indian Airlines.
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