Lucknow | Shankh Airlines is likely to begin 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 metro cities, Chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma said on Tuesday.
The airline will also operate flights to destinations across Uttar Pradesh in its first phase, Vishwakarma said, adding that two more aircraft are expected to join the fleet within the next one-and-a-half months.
"At present, the fleet size is limited, but as it grows, we will cover the entire country," he told PTI Videos, noting that international operations are planned for 2028 or 2029.
The 35-year-old entrepreneur said Shankh Airlines' core objective is to make air travel accessible to middle-class passengers and first-time flyers, and to break the perception that flying is a luxury.
"An aircraft is just a means of transport, like a bus or a tempo. It should not be seen as something exclusive," he said.
Recalling the airline's origin, Vishwakarma said the idea of entering the aviation sector came to him about four years ago.
"Once the thought struck me, I began understanding the process, how to get the NOC, what are the rules 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 even dreaming big was once considered unrealistic.
"In the circumstances we grew up, just earning a livelihood 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, many of which failed," he said, adding his business journey gained momentum in 2014 with entry into the cement trade.
This was followed by ventures into TMT steel, mining and the transport sectors.
"Today, we have a fleet of over 400 trucks," he said, describing the growth as gradual and organic. "There was no grand planning. Things evolved 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. Many 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 already called Shankh, and the name also has a cultural association. That is why we kept the airline's name Shankh as well."
On funding, Vishwakarma said the airline has full backing from its parent company.
"The aircraft have been 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 concerned about who controls what. Our focus 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 generate employment opportunities 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 also move ahead. The difference is only in mindset."
