UDAN Flights Stop On Half Of Routes
India’s UDAN regional air connectivity scheme is facing sustainability challenges, with commercial flights discontinued on nearly half of the routes made operational since the programme began.
UDAN Routes Face Major Disruption
Of the 669 routes made operational under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik scheme since 2017, flights are currently running on only 336 routes. This means nearly half of the launched routes are no longer active.
The scheme was designed to improve air connectivity to underserved and remote areas by offering discounted fares and financial support to airlines. However, several routes have struggled to remain commercially viable after the initial support period ended.
Regional Airlines Struggle With Viability
The government has spent nearly ₹4,700 crore on airline subsidies and another ₹4,800 crore on infrastructure at remote airports. Despite this, many smaller carriers have either shut down, reduced operations or exited regional routes due to weak demand and high operating costs.
Some routes became unviable once the three-year subsidy period ended. Regional airlines have also pointed to limited access to major gateway airports, aircraft availability and airport readiness as key hurdles.
UDAN Phase Two Gets Higher Funding
The government is now preparing to launch the second phase of UDAN with a much larger outlay of ₹28,840 crore. The subsidy support period is expected to be extended from three years to five years to give airlines more time to build sustainable demand.
Additional funds have also been planned for airport maintenance in the early years, when passenger traffic remains low. The new phase will test whether stronger financial support and better infrastructure planning can make regional air connectivity more durable.
