Indian Airlines, which has traversed a long way since its inception 50 years ago in the face of a fast-changing global economic and political environment and in stiff competition with private carriers, now wants to acknowledge the contribution of passengers to its success.

The public sector domestic carrier, which observes five decades of its existence on Friday, would bring in a slew of schemes and incentives through its Golden Jubilee year to attract passengers, besides focussing on the employees who brought it to such a height.

IA started with as many as 99 aircraft, including 74 Dakotas, all earlier owned by small private airlines, which were nationalised in the early 50s and amalgamated into a single carrier.

At that time, it carried about 300,000 passengers in the first six months in 1953, compared with seven million a year now.

Besides pride and satisfaction at its achievements, the celebrations would focus on the theme of introspection as well as planning out for a better future by acquiring aircraft and further improving its services, IA officials said, adding however that government nod was being awaited on fleet expansion plans.

Among the incentives for passengers are two new schemes -- Fortune 50 and Executive Edge -- valid for a limited period during the lean season.