UDAN INTERNATIONAL

Background:

• Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched in 2016 to make air travel affordable for people through subsidised ticket rates and to provide air connectivity to smaller towns.
  
  
• Now, to expand UDAN to international circuits, Centre has unveiled the draft International Air Connectivity (IAC) scheme.
  
  

Salient Features:

• Target: To increase the international ticketing to 20 crore by 2027.
  
  
• States covered: it will cover only those states which provide the required support for promoting operations under the scheme.
  
  
• Working:
  • Under it, state governments will identify the routes to be connected, and airline operators will assess demand on the identified routes and submit proposals for providing connectivity.
    
    
  • Operations under the scheme will be permitted through fixed-wing aircraft only with more than 70 seats.
    
    
  • Subsidy support (for up to three years) will be provided to selected airlines only for the passenger seats, which remain unsold at the time of IAC flight operation.
    
    
  
  
  
• International Air Connectivity Fund (IACF): it will be a dedicated fund under the scheme for providing subsidy support. It will be established through the contributions of state governments.
  
  
• Implementing agency of the scheme: Airport Authority of India (AAI)