Following the Civil Aviation Ministry’s nod, three new airlines, including Shankh Airlines, is expected to begin flight operations in the first half of
January 2026. The airline is expected to kick off with an initial fleet of three Airbus aircraft, aiming to connect Lucknow with Delhi, Mumbai, and other metro cities, Chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma said on Tuesday. According to Vishwakarma, in the first phase of flight operations, flights will operate to destinations across Uttar Pradesh. He added that two more aircraft are expected to join the fleet within the next one-and-a-half months. Shankh Airlines is expected to commence international operations by 2028 or 2029. "At present, the fleet size is limited, but as it grows, we will cover the entire country," he told the Press Trust of India (PTI). Highlighting the airline’s objective, Vishwakarma said the aim is to make air travel accessible to middle-class passengers and first-time flyers, breaking the perception that flying is a luxury. He said, "An aircraft is just a means of transport, like a bus or a tempo. It should not be seen as something exclusive."
Entering the Aviation Sector
Calling aviation one of the fastest-growing sectors, Vishwakarma highlighted its financial advantages. “There is no credit system in aviation. Many businesses collapse because they depend on credit, but aviation does not work that way,” he explained.He also elaborated on the airline's name: “Our trading firm was already called Shankh, and the name also has a cultural association. That is why we kept the airline's name Shankh as well.”
Funding and Strategy
On funding, Vishwakarma said the airline has full backing from its parent company. “The aircraft have been acquired on lease and finance from external companies. We have no funding constraints,” he said, adding that the airline is not focused on competitors’ market shares. “We are not concerned about who controls what. Our focus is on improving ourselves.”Fares and Employment Opportunities
Vishwakarma assured that ticket prices would not increase during festival seasons, though business-class fares would be priced higher than competitors. He also emphasised that the airline would generate employment opportunities for youth.Civil Aviation Ministry Nod to New Airlines
The Civil Aviation Ministry recently held meetings with teams from Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, and FlyXpress. While Shankh Air already had clearance, the other two airlines were granted No-Objection Certificates (NOCs), enabling them to commence operations.Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu reiterated that promoting more airlines has been a consistent policy objective, particularly in light of the rapid growth of the Indian aviation sector.
Minister Naidu highlighted government initiatives such as UDAN, designed to improve regional connectivity and support smaller airlines. Through this scheme, carriers like Star Air, IndiaOne Air, and Fly91 have expanded services to previously underserved routes, connecting smaller cities to the national aviation network.
(With PTI Inputs)
