In a groundbreaking event for aviation and postal services, Henri Pequet, a young aviator aged 23, undertook the first official airmail flight in India. Taking off from Allahabad in the United Provinces of British India, Pequet transported an impressive cargo of 6,500 letters destined for Naini, a town located approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away. The flight, which took place on February 18, 1911, was a demonstration of how air travel could revolutionize communication by drastically reducing delivery times.

Pequet piloted a Wright Model B aircraft, which was one of the advancements in aviation technology at the time. The significance of this flight extended beyond just the delivery of mail; it illustrated the burgeoning potential of airplanes in logistics and transport. The success of Pequet's flight was greeted with enthusiasm and curiosity from local spectators, highlighting the growing interest in aviation during the early 20th century.

Furthermore, this airmail flight in Allahabad laid the foundation for future postal aviation services in India. With the postal system increasingly under pressure to deliver mail swiftly across expanding distances, airmail became an attractive alternative. Pequet’s trailblazing journey is remembered as a pivotal moment in both aeronautics and mail delivery, inspiring further innovations and developments in the aviation industry, particularly in the realm of commercial services.