India has built one of the world's most ambitious regional aviation networks — and the UDAN scheme is the engine behind it. Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik, which translates to "let the common citizen of the country fly," is the Indian government's flagship regional connectivity scheme designed to make air travel affordable and accessible far beyond the big metros.

Whether you're planning a trip to a remote hill station, a pilgrimage town or a smaller city that barely showed up on flight search results a decade ago, the UDAN scheme for Indian travellers is meant to connect Indian travellers to regional destinations.

What is the UDAN scheme?

Think of UDAN as the government's way of saying: flying in India shouldn't just be for people in big cities.

For a long time, air travel in India was concentrated around major metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru. Smaller cities had airports sitting largely unused, and airlines had little incentive to fly there because the passenger numbers didn't make financial sense.

The UDAN scheme was developed to changed that. The government steps in and subsidises airlines to operate routes that wouldn't otherwise be profitable. These subsidies are called Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and they're split between the central and state governments. In return, airlines keep fares affordable on those routes.

The result? Over 650 routes now operate across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes. Places like Shimla, Agatti, Deoghar and Lilabari — once reachable only by long road or rail journeys — are now on the flight map.

How does the fare cap work?

The scheme uses a mechanism called Viability Gap Funding (VGF), where the central and state governments jointly subsidise airlines operating on awarded UDAN routes. State governments also commit to reducing VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel to 1% or less, and waive landing charges at regional airports. In exchange, airlines offer a portion of seats at capped fares, making short-haul regional flying more competitive with train or bus travel.

How many routes and airports does it cover?

The numbers are significant. Over nine years of implementation 663 routes have been operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, with more than 3.41 lakh flights operated and 162.47 lakh passengers carried as of February 2026. India's overall airport network also grew from 74 airports in 2014 to 159 airports in 2024 — and UDAN drove much of that expansion by reviving unused airstrips and funding new greenfield airports.

Latest UDAN scheme updates

What's new in 2026? According to statements from the Prime Minister of India, the UDAN scheme will expand further. Here's what to expect:

• 100 new airports built from existing unused airstrips

• 200 new helipads for remote, hilly and hard-to-reach areas

• ₹10,043 crore in airline subsidies to keep regional routes running

• Indigenous aircraft — HAL Dhruv helicopters and Dornier planes — for operations in tough terrain

The bigger picture is connectivity for places that genuinely need it: northeastern states, island territories, hill regions where a flight isn't a luxury but a practical necessity for healthcare, trade and tourism.

What does the UDAN scheme mean for travellers?

If you've ever wanted to explore a lesser-known destination in India but been put off by the journey, UDAN is working in your favour. More regional airports mean more options, more competition and — ideally — lower fares to places that used to feel out of reach.

Five inspiring destinations reachable thanks to the UDAN scheme

Ready to book your UDAN-route adventure? Skyscanner makes it easy — learn how to book flight tickets and how to find cheap last-minute flights to get the best deal on regional routes. Travelling on a tight budget? Our guide to budget airlines in India is a great place to start. Set up Skyscanner Price Alerts so you never miss a fare drop, and if you have questions, our flight booking FAQ has you covered.