Shankh Airlines to Begin Operations in January, Check Key Routes Offered by India's New Airline

Shankh Airlines will start flight operations in the first half of January with an initial fleet of three Airbus aircraft, focusing on connecting Lucknow with Delhi, Mumbai and other metros, Chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma said on Tuesday. The airline will also operate flights to destinations across UP in its first phase, Vishwakarma said, adding that two more aircraft will join the fleet within the next one-and-a-half months.

"Presently, the fleet size is limited, but as it grows, we will cover the whole country," he told PTI Videos, noting that international operations are planned for 2028 or 2029.

The 35-year-old entrepreneur said Shankh Airlines will make air travel accessible to middle-class and first-time flyers and break the perception that flying is a luxury.

"An aircraft is just a means of transport. It should not be seen as something exclusive," he said.

Reflecting on the airline's origins, Vishwakarma said the idea of entering the aviation sector came to him about four years ago.

"Once the thought struck me, I started understanding the process, how to get the NOC, what the rules are and how the system works. What started as an idea four years ago has now taken shape," he said.

Coming from a modest middle-class background, Vishwakarma said that even dreaming big was once considered unrealistic.

"In the circumstances we grew up in, just earning an income was seen as enough. Dreaming beyond that was almost unthinkable," he said.

Vishwakarma said his formal education was limited and he had little interest in academics. "I drove autos with acquaintances and tried a few small businesses, several of which failed," he said, adding that his business journey gained momentum in 2014 with entry into the cement trade.

Ventures into the TMT steel, mining, and transport sectors followed this.

"Today, we have over 400 trucks," he said, describing the growth as gradual and organic. "There was no grand planning. Things changed with time." Calling aviation one of the fastest-growing sectors, Vishwakarma said its biggest strength lies in strong cash flow. "There is no credit system in aviation. Several businesses collapse because they depend on credit, but aviation does not work that way."

Explaining the airline's name, he said, "Our trading firm was previously called Shankh, and the name also has a cultural association. That’s why we kept the airline's name Shankh too. “On funding, Vishwakarma said the airline has full backing from its parent company.

"The aircraft is acquired on lease and finance from external companies. We have no funding constraints," he said, adding the airline was not focused on competitors' market shares. "We are not anxious about who controls what. Our emphasis is on improving ourselves. “On fares, Vishwakarma said ticket prices would not be increased during festival seasons, though business-class fares would be priced higher than competitors.

He also said the airline would create employment prospects for youth. Advising young people, he said, "The first thing they should stop worrying about is what people will say. If someone who once drove a tempo can run an airline, others can move ahead as well. The difference is only in mindset."

Source: Economic Times