The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has permitted India’s newest airline Shankh Air, owned by Shankh Aviation Pvt Ltd, to start operations. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the airline remains valid for three years.
However, Shankh Air will also have to get approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before starting flights. The company’s website states that Shankh Air will be the first scheduled airline to fly from Uttar Pradesh. It will provide connections to all major cities by having its hubs in Lucknow and Noida.
The airline will operate on “both intra-state and inter-state routes, focusing on cities with high demand and cities with limited direct flight options”. Shankh Aviation is headed by chairman and entrepreneur Sharvan Kumar Vishwakarma.
The Uttar Pradesh airline plans to make an official announcement soon and is in advanced discussions with worldwide lessors, according to its website. The airline aims to bring a “new approach to the Indian aviation sector by offering competitive pricing, reliability and focus on passenger comfort and ease of flying”.
The airline said it is committed to providing the best flying experience.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a letter of approval to the airline to comply with all regulations related to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Shining Air is set to start flight services with a fleet of new-generation Boeing 737-800NG narrow-body aircraft.
In June, Shankh Air chairman Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma met Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu where the two sides discussed the airline’s strategic direction and its evolution as a full-service start-up airline.
In March, Noida International Airport CEO Christoph Schnellmann and COO Kiran Jain met the co-founders and management team of Shankh Air to discuss collaboration to bolster Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to enhance air connectivity.