India. Incredible India. And how different Airlines viewed India or portrayed India as a destination was very well depicted through their posters. Back in the 20th century, many international airlines used to make posters of places they can take their customers to promote their airline. These posters used to be hand drawn and well illustrated and were used as an active advertisement. Nowadays airlines use all kinds of mediums to promote their travel destinations from promotion videos to commercial ads and what not. but back then, especially during the 1950s the travel posters were the most celebrated source of advertisement.

The point of emphasis is, elements that the airlines used for portraying India and its places. Back then, thanks to lack of any other great advertisement media for airlines, the posters must have made great visual impact in giving a person an idea of what India is about. These vintage posters were once the viewpoint of India for people flying to India.

Following are some of the vintage posters of different International Airlines:-

SABENA world AIRLINES

Once the national airline of Belgium, Sabena Airlines is now taken over by Brussels Airlines. It was formed in 1923 and used to connect Belgium to different parts of Europe through flights. After the World War II in 1951 it began it operations across different parts of the world, including India.

This poster depicted India through its dance form. India is known to have 8 main Classical Dance forms and hence, is famous for its classical dance. Apart from the form, the dress was also made with intricate nature based patterns which is also depicted the handicraft of India.

Imperial Airways

The Imperial Airways was the predecessor of British Airways. It flight from London to Karachi (then in India) began in 1929. The journey in itself was a tedious task with stoppages in Paris, Genoa, Rome, Corfu, Tobruk, Alexandria, Gaza and Basra, among others and interchange from a Plane to a train and then to a Sea Plane (then called flying boat). The journey used to take 7 days. But it was still a popular and naturally expensive idea as back then journey from London to Karachi used to take weeks instead of days.

perhaps that is why the poster was made with an aerial view of India as that would be the most sought after sight after the 7 days of journey. The poster is artists impression of aerial view of river Ganga, the holy river of India.

Swiss Air

The former national airline of Switzerland, Swiss Air depicted India through its Royalty. The Elephant was considered highly in Royalty and Military structure of India. The Impressionistic poster took the Mahaout ride of Indian Royalty as a main element with palace in the background and traditionally dressed woman in the foreground.

British Overseas Airways Corporation

By 1940s, Elephants and Mahaouts became a common trait of viewing India. BOAC was a merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Limited which kept the international flight business of Britain afloat during World War II and it used to connect London to Karachi and Calcutta during 1940s.

The Design element was kept simple and Focused on the now familiar image of India.

MIDDLE eastern Airlines

This Airline still operates unlike several other airlines which have been take over or shut down. MEA was formed just 2 years before India's independence out of Beirut, Lebanon and used to operate flights to India during the 1960s.

The poster was made with traditional saree clad village girl as subject by the noted french artist Jacques Auriac.

Trans world airlines

India, post-independence, during the 1950s and 60s became a big destination for American travelers, with Udaipur and Kashmir becoming one of the most sought after places for american tourists. TWA launched the posters for India keeping Just that in mind.

TWA was formed in 1925 and is now taken over by American Airlines which continues to fly to India even today.

AIR France

Graphic artists Bernard Villemot and Guy Georget were hired by Air France for this posters. They decided to play with symbols to identify India which is evident in their poster where two muslim girls are shown standing in front of a minaret.

Aerofloat Soviet Airlines

USSR, now disintegrated to Russia, is one of the oldest allies of India. The poster by Aerofloat in 1960s and 70s was not Just to advertise but also to strengthen the bonds between the two allies. This was made evident by including the Ashok Chakra into the poster which is a National Symbol for India.

Pan American World Airways

The Pan Am is known as a legend, famous for its many firsts. One such first was the first round the world flight in 1976 which stopped at Delhi in its route.

Several famous elements of is used in the poster namely the Taj Mahal, Bengal Tiger, Mahaout and lastly cows to add a cliche element.

More posters from Pan America are shown below:-

Some more examples:-

Scandinavian Airlines

Qantas

Lufthansa

REFERENCES

Pillai, Shruti. “30 Vintage Air India Posters That'll Put Every Travel-Nut On A Direct Flight Back In Time.” ScoopWhoop, ScoopWhoop,

www.scoopwhoop.com/30-Vintage-Air-India-Posters/#.88qtgrcee.

Ramamurthy, Prasad. “India as Seen through Vintage Airline Posters.” Condé Nast Traveller India, Condé Nast Traveller India, 2 Sept. 2016,

www.cntraveller.in/story/india-as-seen-through-vintage-airline-posters/#s-custexotic-switzerland.

Skwal1. “Qantas Poster - India.” Flickr, Yahoo!, 5 July 2011, www.flickr.com/photos/64815616@N04/5904541160/in/photostream/.

“Vintage Scandinavian Airlines SAS Flights to India Poster A3 Print.” Vintage Poster Shop, shop.actionposters.co.uk/vintage-scandinavian-airlines-sas-flights-to-india-poster--a3-print-20202-p.asp.

Depiction of India through Vintage Airline Posters