MODIFIED FOR TRAVEL The Evolution of Indian Regional Aviation: Learning from the Sky For nearly a decade, the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme has served as the centerpiece of India’s aviation narrative, aiming to fulfill the middle-class dream of affordable air travel. However, by early 2026, a stark reality had set in: nearly half of the routes launched under the original 2016 framework had collapsed once government subsidies expired. The recently approved Modified UD