India’s civil aviation sector is entering another phase of expansion at a time when domestic air travel demand continues to rise, regulatory scrutiny remains firm, and concerns over market concentration persist. Over the past decade, air passenger traffic in India has grown steadily, supported by rising incomes, regional connectivity schemes, and the expansion of airport infrastructure.
At the same time, the market has become increasingly concentrated, with a small number of carriers accounting for the bulk of scheduled domestic operations. Against this backdrop, the entry of new airlines has drawn attention from policymakers, industry participants, and investors. One such entrant is Shankh Air, a proposed airline backed by Shankh Aviation Pvt Ltd, led by its founder and chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, whose personal background stands apart from the traditional profile of aviation promoters in the country.
Shankh Air has received a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a mandatory step for launching scheduled airline operations in India. The clearance places the carrier among a small group of new airlines that have secured regulatory approval in recent months, alongside Al Hind Air and FlyExpress.
The approvals have been confirmed by the civil aviation ministry and acknowledged publicly by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu through official statements. These developments come at a time when the government has reiterated its stated objective of encouraging new operators to enter the domestic market, citing passenger growth trends and the need for wider route coverage, particularly in underserved regions.
Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, aged 35, hails from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh and is the founder and chairman of Shankh Aviation Pvt Ltd, the company that will operate Shankh Air. According to statements given by Vishwakarma to PTI and other media outlets, his early life was spent in a middle-class household where financial stability was a priority.
He has stated that his formal education was limited and that he took up various forms of work at a young age, including driving autos and tempos, in order to earn a living. These details have been consistently reported by multiple news organisations, including PTI and regional media outlets, and form part of the publicly available account of his background.
Vishwakarma has said that his business career began with small ventures that did not succeed. He later entered the cement trade in 2014, a move he has identified as a key phase in building his business base. From cement, his activities expanded into TMT steel, mining, and transport services. Over time, his transport operations grew to include a fleet of more than 400 trucks, according to statements made by Vishwakarma and company disclosures cited in news reports. These businesses, operating across several sectors linked to construction and logistics, provided the capital base used to support the launch of the airline venture.
The idea of entering the aviation sector emerged around four years ago, Vishwakarma has said in interviews. He has described the period that followed as one focused on understanding regulatory procedures, aircraft leasing arrangements, and compliance requirements set by aviation authorities. In India, airline startups are required to meet a series of conditions, including financial fitness, fleet planning, and operational readiness, before being granted approval to commence flights. The process involves scrutiny by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with the no-objection certificate serving as a preliminary clearance.
Shankh Air is expected to begin operations in the first half of January, subject to final regulatory clearances. According to PTI reports quoting Vishwakarma, the airline will start with an initial fleet of three Airbus aircraft. These aircraft have been acquired through leasing and financing arrangements with external companies, a common practice among new carriers seeking to manage capital requirements. Two more aircraft are expected to be added within one and a half months of the launch, according to official statements from the company. The aircraft are currently undergoing technical reviews and preparatory procedures before being delivered to India.
In its initial phase, Shankh Air plans to focus on connecting Lucknow with major metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, while also operating flights to other destinations within Uttar Pradesh. The proposed route network aligns with the broader objective of improving connectivity between state capitals, metropolitan hubs, and regional centres. Vishwakarma has stated that as the fleet grows, the airline intends to expand its domestic network across the country. International operations have been mentioned as part of longer-term planning, with timelines indicated around 2028 or 2029, though no formal applications for international routes have been announced so far.
The airline will be operated by Shankh Aviation Pvt Ltd, which was earlier known as Shankh Agency Pvt Ltd before its name change following its entry into the aviation sector. Company records cited in media reports indicate that the firm’s paid-up capital was around ₹50 crore at the time of restructuring, with overall investment running into several hundred crore rupees when aircraft leases, infrastructure, and operational costs are taken into account. Vishwakarma has stated that the airline has financial backing from its parent business interests and has reported no immediate funding constraints for the launch phase.
The choice of the name “Shankh” has been attributed to continuity with Vishwakarma’s existing trading firm and its cultural familiarity. This explanation has been shared by Vishwakarma in interviews and is part of the company’s official communication. The airline’s headquarters is expected to be located in Lucknow, with initial operations centred on airports in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Infrastructure arrangements, including parking and ground handling, are being coordinated with airport authorities and service providers, according to company statements.
Shankh Air’s entry comes at a time when India’s domestic aviation market is dominated by a small number of carriers. As per recent DGCA data, IndiGo and the Air India Group together account for more than 90 per cent of the market, with IndiGo holding over 65 per cent. Other scheduled domestic airlines currently in operation include Alliance Air, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91, and IndiaOne Air. The total number of scheduled domestic airlines stands at nine, following the suspension of flights by regional carrier Fly Big in October.
Government officials have acknowledged concerns related to limited competition and have cited schemes such as UDAN, aimed at improving regional air connectivity, as part of efforts to support smaller carriers. Minister K Rammohan Naidu has stated publicly that encouraging more airline operators remains a consistent policy objective, given India’s position as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally. Meetings between the ministry and representatives of new airlines, including Shankh Air, have been confirmed through official posts and press briefings.
On pricing and operations, Vishwakarma has stated that the airline does not plan to increase ticket prices during festival seasons. He has also said that business-class fares will be priced higher than those of some competitors. These statements have been reported by PTI and other outlets and form part of the airline’s declared commercial approach. No detailed fare charts have been released so far, and ticket sales are expected to begin closer to the launch date, subject to regulatory approvals.
Vishwakarma has also stated that the aviation sector’s payment structure, where tickets are sold upfront rather than on credit, was among the factors he considered when entering the industry. This view has been shared in interviews and has been reported as part of his explanation of the business rationale behind the airline. The company has also indicated that it expects to generate employment opportunities as part of its operations, though specific numbers have not been disclosed.
The civil aviation ministry has confirmed that the process for completing the remaining approvals will be carried out in coordination with the DGCA, following established timelines. Officials have stated that regulatory compliance and safety requirements will remain central to the approval process for all new carriers. Shankh Air’s progress toward launch will depend on the completion of these steps, including the issuance of an air operator certificate.
