February 18, 1911: the day India changed mail forever

February 18 marks World Airmail Day , celebrating the 115th anniversary of the world’s first official airmail flight , which took place in India. On February 18, 1911, French aviator Henri Pequet piloted a Humber-Sommer biplane from Allahabad to Naini , carrying 6,500 letters and cards. The flight, covering roughly eight kilometres in 13 minutes, is recognised as the birth of airmail , demonstrating for the first time that mail could move reliably through the air.

The historic flight occurred during the Kumbh Mela festival and the United Provinces Exhibition, providing both an audience and a platform to showcase powered flight. The choice of Allahabad was practical: the open fields and public gatherings allowed a safe take-off and landing. The event also had a philanthropic angle, as proceeds from the special airmail fee supported the construction of the Oxford & Cambridge Hostel in the city.

Most letters carried that day bore a magenta ink marking, but some were reserved for prominent recipients. There were also unusual items, including letters underpaid for international destinations, which were still flown and processed later upon arrival. These details illustrate how the postal system operated at the dawn of airmail.

Pequet’s flight was more than a postal experiment; it symbolised the possibilities of aviation in its infancy. It paved the way for the development of civilian air transport , faster and safer aircraft, modern airports, and navigational systems, fundamentally changing communication and trade.

The significance of the 1911 flight has been commemorated over the years. In 2011, India issued a special souvenir sheet featuring a stamp and miniature sheet to mark the centenary. France also released a commemorative stamp recognising Pequet’s achievement. Collectors continue to preserve letters, cards, and signed memorabilia from the flight, which remain rare due to India’s humid climate.

World Airmail Day serves as a reminder of that pioneering 13-minute journey and the transformative impact it had on global communication. Exhibitions and displays around the world, including at the Royal Philatelic Society in London, continue to celebrate the innovation, foresight, and courage that made airmail possible and connected the world in new ways.