No More Costly Flights! Here’s How UDAN Scheme Makes Flying Accessible To All

The government of India launched a scheme especially targeting the aviation sector called the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)/Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), popularly known as the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme. The scheme aims to make air travel affordable and accessible for all citizens of India.

Read the article to learn more about the government scheme, including information Regional Connectivity Scheme airports list.

What Is The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)?

The Indian government launched a scheme called the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN)/Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in the year 2016. The primary aim behind the creation of this scheme is to make air travel affordable, especially for people living in tier-II and tier-III cities. The government is planning to achieve this by constructing smaller airports, developing new and improving existing infrastructure to connect even smaller towns to metropolitan cities.

Objectives Of The UDAN Scheme

The government scheme has several objectives that represent its aim. Some of its key objectives are as follows:

• The main objective of the scheme is to make air travel affordable and accessible for all, especially people from low-income groups, by providing subsidies on air fares. For example: Rs. 2500 for an hour flight.

• Under the scheme, exclusive focus will be given to establishing Greenfield and Brownfield airports so that connectivity can be widened.

• The government scheme encourages collaboration between the state and private airlines for proper expansion.

• Following the UDAN scheme, the fee charged on non-UDAN flights will be used to finance subsidies given on UDAN-covered flights.

What Is The UDAN Scheme Eligibility Criteria?

The eligibility criteria for the Udan scheme are mentioned below. This would help you in understanding the proper implementation of the scheme as well. The criteria are:

• All scheduled or non-scheduled airlines fulfilling the operational criteria can apply for UDAN routes.

• Only underdeveloped or unserved airports are eligible for the UDAN Scheme.

• All the citizens of India can avail themselves of the discounted fares.

Components of the UDAN Scheme

There are some components of the government scheme that help the scheme stay true to its objectives. The components are:

• Viability Gap Funding (VGF): It is a government grant that helps airlines in covering the gap between operational costs and expected revenue. The Regional Connectivity Fund was created to finance VGF and, hence, support the scheme.

• Aircraft type: Under the scheme, various aircraft are covered, like fixed-wing, helicopters, and seaplanes. Planes are used in proportion to the distance to be covered.

Challenges Faced By The UDAN Scheme

Some challenges that the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme faces are laid down below in brief points:

• Many regional routes suffer loss due to low passenger rates, as many passengers, especially from remote areas, still prefer to travel by traditional means of transport, like road rather than flights.

• Several airports established under the UDAN scheme still lack basic infrastructural facilities.

• Private airlines have an extremely limited interest in partnering with the government for this scheme, as it isn’t that profitable.