Wings of Change

UDAN, or Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik, is India’s Regional Connectivity Scheme. It was launched on 21 October 2016 to make air travel affordable and economically viable on regional routes. Its purpose is to connect places that commercial aviation may otherwise overlook.

The scheme combines market-based airline selection with airfare caps, concessions, and Viability Gap Funding, or VGF. These tools reduce the financial risk of operating routes with limited demand. The first RCS-UDAN flight flew from Shimla to Delhi in April 2017. Since then, the scheme has supported 687 regional routes.

The results are substantial. More than 3.68 lakh flights have operated under UDAN, carrying 1.72 crore passengers. As of 15 October 2026, the government had disbursed Rs 5091.23 crore in VGF. The model aims to widen access while keeping regional routes viable for airlines.

UDAN began operations with its first RCS flight between Shimla and Delhi in April 2017. Since then, it has become a major driver of regional aviation expansion. The scheme focuses on unserved and underserved airports, bringing air services to places that previously had limited or no connectivity.

By the figures reported in October 2026, UDAN had operationalised 687 regional routes across India. It had also operationalised 95 aerodromes. This total includes 17 heliports and two water aerodromes. Airlines had operated more than 3.68 lakh flights under the scheme.

Passenger use shows the scale of access created. UDAN had facilitated air travel for 1.72 crore passengers. The wider aviation sector also grew strongly, with operational airports rising from 74 in 2014 to 166 by 2026. India is now the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, according to the article.

The next phase of UDAN was formally launched on 4 July 2026. It will run from FY 2026-27 to FY 2035-36, with a total outlay of Rs 28,840 crore. The focus moves beyond starting routes. It aims to build a stronger ecosystem for sustainable regional aviation and Made in India civil aircraft.

A major change is the emphasis on Centre-State and Union Territory partnerships. A Challenge Mode Portal for Aerodrome Development will help identify airstrips and helipads. The scheme proposes developing 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips, with Rs 12,159 crore allocated over eight years.

The phase also provides three years of operations and maintenance support for about 441 aerodromes. This support has an estimated outlay of Rs 2,577 crore. Together, these measures are intended to strengthen infrastructure, improve long-term route viability, and encourage indigenous aircraft manufacturing.

The North-Eastern states are a special priority because their difficult hilly terrain makes physical connectivity harder. The article describes the region as under-connected. Better air links can therefore support wider access to travel and regional development, especially where other transport connections are more difficult.

UDAN has responded by focusing on priority routes and aviation facilities in the region. Across the North-Eastern states, 90 priority RCS routes have been operationalised. The scheme has also identified 52 aerodromes, including heliports and water aerodromes.

Progress is underway, but the infrastructure is not fully operational yet. Of the 52 identified aerodromes, 12 have been operationalised. The next UDAN phase places greater emphasis on aerodrome development, Centre-State and Union Territory partnerships, and identifying airstrips and helipads through a Challenge Mode Portal. These measures could extend regional connectivity further.

Air connectivity can change how remote communities participate in the economy. The article says it facilitates access to markets, supports tourism, and expands economic opportunities. Airports and routes make it easier for people and businesses in underserved areas to connect with wider destinations.

A regional route can link a community to commercial centres and travel networks. That can support tourism and improve access to air travel for residents. UDAN’s scale illustrates this role: it has operationalised 687 regional routes, 95 aerodromes, and more than 3.68 lakh flights. These services have carried 1.72 crore passengers.

The broader employment picture also shows the sector’s importance. Aviation-related jobs grew from around 3 million in 2014 to nearly 7.7 million in 2026. The sector has the potential to reach 25 million jobs by 2040. The article presents connectivity as part of this wider regional development story.

Regional routes often need support because connecting underserved places may not be immediately profitable for airlines. The article describes UDAN’s goal as affordable yet economically viable and profitable regional air travel. Public support helps pursue both aims instead of relying only on short-term commercial returns.

UDAN uses market-based selection, airfare caps, concessions, and Viability Gap Funding. Airfare caps help keep tickets affordable. VGF helps cover part of the gap when route revenues do not fully support operations. Concessions further encourage airline participation and reduce operating barriers.

This approach has produced a large network. UDAN has operationalised 687 routes and carried 1.72 crore passengers. As of 15 October 2026, Rs 5091.23 crore had been disbursed under VGF. The next phase continues this support while placing more emphasis on sustainable operations and long-term route viability.

A regional route needs more than an aircraft. It needs an operational aerodrome, an airline willing to fly, passengers who can afford tickets, and enough financial support during the early stages. UDAN brings these elements together to connect unserved and underserved locations.

The government supports the system through market-based selection, airfare caps, concessions, and Viability Gap Funding. Airlines receive incentives to participate, while passengers benefit from capped fares. Aerodrome development provides the physical base for operations. Passenger demand then helps determine whether a route can become more economically viable over time.

The current network shows this combined model at work. UDAN has operationalised 687 routes and 95 aerodromes, including heliports and water aerodromes. More than 3.68 lakh flights have carried 1.72 crore passengers. The 2026 phase adds airport development, maintenance support, and stronger Centre-State and Union Territory partnerships.