India’s regional air connectivity scheme UDAN has facilitated air travel for 17.2 mn passengers and operationalised 687 routes since its launch in October 2016, according to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) backgrounder released ahead of the scheme’s tenth anniversary.

More than 368,000 flights have operated under the scheme, while 95 aerodromes have been operationalised. These include 17 heliports and two water aerodromes, expanding access to smaller cities, remote areas and regions previously lacking regular air services.

The government had disbursed Rs. 50.91 bn in Viability Gap Funding (VGF) by October 15 to support airline operations on regional routes. The funding mechanism, along with market-based selection, airfare caps and concessions, is intended to encourage airline participation where passenger demand and airport revenues remain insufficient for commercial sustainability.

The government launched Modified UDAN on July 4 with an approved outlay of Rs. 288.4 bn for the 10-year period from FY26-27 to FY35-36. Of this, Rs. 100.43 bn has been allocated to support airline operations, while 100 airports are planned at existing unserved airstrips.

The modified scheme also envisages 200 modern helipads and operational support for approximately 441 aerodromes. In the North-Eastern states, UDAN has operationalised 90 priority regional routes and 12 aerodromes. The government said future efforts would focus on infrastructure development, financial support and coordination with state governments to strengthen regional connectivity and improve the long-term viability of air travel. UDAN was launched on October 21, 2016, to make flying more affordable and connect unserved and underserved regions.