Not yet classifiedUDAN
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik)
A regional airport development and connectivity scheme to make air travel affordable and accessible to the common citizen on underserved routes.
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₹0 — completely free
Applying for route bids or passenger seat subsidies under UDAN is processed through official AAI tenders with standard security deposits, but no processing fees for users.
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Highlights and Media
Key Highlights
Affordable Regional Fares
Capped airfares at approximately ₹2,500 per hour of flight for 50% of the seats on regional routes.
Viability Gap Funding
Airlines receive VGF financial subsidies for the first 3 years to ensure operational profitability.
Remote Heli & Water Connectivity
Includes helicopter routes and seaplane water aerodromes to link remote and coastal territories.
UDAN vs Regular Airfares
Comparing cost structures for a typical 1-hour regional flight
Standard Regional Fare
₹5,500 averageUncapped market-rate flight pricing across typical commercial routes.
UDAN Capped Fare
₹2,500 maximumPrice cap enforced for 50% of the seats on subsidized RCS routes.
Who is eligible
- Eligible airline operator or logistics enterprise aligned with UDAN-RCS guidelines.
Eligibility rules · v1 · effective 1 January 2020
Who is not eligible
- UDAN-RCS participation is open to active flight operators and related transport entities.
How to apply
Route Network Proposal Submissions
Interested airline or helicopter operators submit network and route proposals to the nodal agency (Airports Authority of India) during RCS bidding rounds.
Typical duration · 30 days
Technical and Financial Evaluation
The nodal agency evaluates bids on technical parameters, flight frequencies, aircraft passenger capacity, and required Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
Typical duration · 45 days
Letter of Award & Flight Initiation
Selected operators receive the Letter of Award (LoA), execute state MoUs, secure airport slots, and commence regional flight operations.
Typical duration · 60 days
Sources
- Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of IndiaMINISTRY_PORTAL · Fetched 5 July 2026
Additional Details
Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) is a flagship regional connectivity scheme (RCS) launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. The primary objective is to facilitate regional air connectivity by making it affordable for the common citizen.
The scheme operates on a market-based bidding mechanism where airlines bid for exclusive routes connecting unserved and under-served regional airports. To keep fares capped at an affordable rate (e.g. ₹2,500 per hour of flight for 50% of the seats), the Government provides Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to the selected airline operators for the first three years of operation.
In addition, participating state governments provide free land, security, utilities at concessionary rates, and reduced VAT on aviation turbine fuel, while airport operators waive landing, parking, and terminal navigation landing charges. UDAN is planned to connect 100 regional airports, helipads, and water aerodromes across India's remote districts.