Only 1 of 4 in UDAN routes survive on completion of 3 years.

Why in news?

• As per Ministry of Civil Aviation, of the 94 RCS-Udan routes that have completed 3-year tenure, only 22 routes are in operation.
• The Ministry has cited several challenges to the scheme. These include-
• Difficult airline business which has low yield and high operating costs, lack of slots at congested airports like Delhi and Mumbai, non-availability of smaller planes and maintenance issues which require procurement of spare parts from abroad.
• There also have been delays in completing airport development work due to lack of funds and non-availability of land.

About Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (Udan) scheme

• UDAN scheme, also known as regional connectivity scheme (RCS) was launched in 2016.
• The aim of the scheme was to take flying to the masses and improve air connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
• Under the scheme, airlines have to cap fares at ₹2,500 per seat per hour of flight for 50% of the seats in a plane for which they receive a viability gap funding (subsidy) from the government along with some other benefits.