The Last-Mile Challenge
For decades, air travel in India was a story of its major metropolitan hubs. While cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru became bustling international gateways, a vast portion of the country remained disconnected from the aviation map. This created
a significant 'last-mile' problem: even with affordable airfares, getting to the airport itself could involve long hours or even an overnight journey by road or rail. This gap not only inconvenienced travellers but also hampered economic growth, tourism, and access to essential services in Tier-2, Tier-3, and remote regions. The solution? To bring the airport closer to the people.
UDAN: Making Flying Accessible
The government's flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik), is the primary engine driving this transformation. Launched in 2016, its goal is to make air travel affordable and widespread by developing a network of regional airports and subsidising flights on these routes. The number of operational airports in India has surged from 74 in 2014 to over 165 in 2026, a testament to the scheme's impact. In March 2026, the government approved a Modified UDAN scheme, committing nearly ₹30,000 crore to develop 100 new airports over the next decade, from FY 2026-27 to 2035-36. This renewed focus aims to develop unserved airstrips and support operations to ensure these new air links are sustainable.
Connecting the Unconnected
The impact is already being felt across the country. Places that were once remote dots on a map, such as Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, and Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, are now part of the national aviation network. This has dramatically cut travel times, enabling faster business travel, boosting local tourism, and providing critical links for medical emergencies and education. The plan also includes developing 200 modern helipads to improve connectivity in hilly and remote areas where building full-fledged airports is not feasible. The strategy isn't just about point-to-point travel; it's about creating a smarter network. A 'hub-and-spoke' model is being implemented at airports like Ahmedabad, Varanasi, and Amritsar. This allows passengers from regional towns to check in their luggage and clear immigration at their local airport before seamlessly transferring to international flights at a larger hub, making global travel more convenient.
More Than Just Runways
The development of new airports acts as a powerful economic catalyst. An airport doesn't just bring planes; it brings jobs, investment, and opportunity. Studies show that aviation has a significant employment multiplier, with every job created at an airport leading to several more in the surrounding economy. These new airports are expected to drive growth in logistics, warehousing, hospitality, and local industries. By connecting regional production centres to national and global markets, they can boost trade in high-value goods and agricultural products. Over time, some airports are envisioned to evolve into 'aerocities'—integrated urban zones with business parks, hotels, and retail, becoming destinations in their own right.
Challenges on the Horizon
However, building airports is only half the battle. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of regional routes is a major challenge. Past phases of UDAN have seen issues with routes being discontinued after the initial subsidy period ends, often due to weak passenger demand or operational difficulties for airlines. For these new airports to succeed, they need to be supported by robust local demand and good ground infrastructure, like roads and public transport, to ensure true last-mile connectivity. The Modified UDAN scheme aims to address these issues by providing longer-term operational support and focusing on route viability, but success will depend on a delicate balance between government support and market-driven growth.
