Air travel in India was long a privilege of the few. UDAN — 'Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik' — launched in October 2016 to change that, with the vision that a common citizen in hawai chappal (slippers) should be able to board a hawai jahaz (aeroplane). The first flight, Shimla–Delhi, took off in April 2017. By March 2026 the scheme had operationalised 663 regional routes connecting 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes.
Regional Aviation · UDAN
Regional Aviation · UDAN
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), launched in 2016, set out to let ordinary citizens in smaller towns fly affordably. By capping fares and giving airlines viability-gap funding, it had operationalised 663 regional routes connecting 95 previously unserved or underserved airports, heliports and water aerodromes by March 2026. Over 1.5 crore passengers have flown under the scheme. The counter shows UDAN routes operationalised.
0 → 663
UDAN routes operationalised
95
Airports connected
1.5 cr+
Passengers flown
UDAN routes operationalised
| Year | UDAN routes |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 routes |
| 2017 | 128 routes |
| 2018 | 200 routes |
| 2019 | 335 routes |
| 2020 | 380 routes |
| 2021 | 403 routes |
| 2022 | 460 routes |
| 2023 | 520 routes |
| 2024 | 600 routes |
| 2026 | 663 routes |
| Dashed bars are years the source does not publish; the shape between published years is drawn, not measured. | |
2016
0routes
UDAN routes
20162026
Since 2016
Added
+663 routes
2016
0 routes
2026
663 routes
Dashed bars are years the source does not publish; the shape between published years is drawn, not measured.
Why it matters Regional air links open up tourism, trade and healthcare access for smaller cities, and knit remote regions like the North-East and islands into the national economy.
- UDAN routes: 0 (2016) → 663 (March 2026); 95 airports connected
- 1.5 crore+ passengers flown; first flight Shimla–Delhi (2017)
- Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation
History
Notable features
UDAN works through a market-driven model with support: airlines bid for routes, fares are capped on a share of seats, and Viability Gap Funding (over ₹4,000 crore disbursed) covers the shortfall on thin routes. Spin-offs include Krishi UDAN for air-freighting perishable farm produce, seaplane and heliport connectivity for hilly and island regions, and affordable 'UDAN Yatri Cafes' at airports.
How it works
UDAN ('Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik' — let the common citizen fly) makes flying to small towns viable by capping fares on regional routes and subsidising airlines to cover their losses (Viability Gap Funding), while the government revives disused airstrips. Half the seats on a UDAN flight are sold at the capped low fare; the subsidy, funded partly by a small levy on other flights, bridges the difference.
Outlook
Operational airports have grown from 74 (2014) to over 160, and UDAN has opened hundreds of regional routes, bringing first-time flyers into the network. A Modified UDAN (2026, ₹28,840 crore) aims to connect 120 more destinations. The real test is unsubsidised regional flying — getting enough passengers that these routes survive after the subsidy ends, rather than lapsing when the support runs out.
By the numbers
0 → 663 UDAN routes (2016→March 2026). 95 airports/heliports/water aerodromes connected. 1.5 crore+ passengers. ₹4,000 crore+ VGF disbursed. Sources: Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI.
Data current to: as on 25 March 2026
Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation via PIB — regional routes operationalised under UDAN, 2016–March 2026. PIB: 663 routes across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes as on 25 March 2026. · link