India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs has approved the application for merger of Air India and Indian Airlines into a new company called National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), effectively completing the legal process.

The merged airline will fl y under the brand of “Air India” both domestically and internationally. The carrier will have a combined fl eet of over 112 aircraft, including three A300s, 19 A310s, 56 A320s, 13 737s, 11 747s, four 777s, four ATRs, and two Do228s.

As part of its fl eet acquisition program of 111 aircraft, the new airline has begun integrating 21 new aircraft – seven 777s, 10 A320s and four 737-800s – into the fl eet in 2007.