The cost of flying international destinations under the scheme will be as low as Rs 2500.
Centre's UDAN scheme to promote regional air connectivity is likely to go global with the Narendra Modi government planning to connect small airports with international destinations.
The cost of flying international destinations under the scheme will be as low as Rs 2500, sources in the knowledge of the scheme told Zee Media. The Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme is a subsidised low fare initiative to connect small cities and to help more people fly.
The 'International UDAN' scheme will focus on the extension of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to international routes and destinations, sources said. This will be announced in the upcoming 3rd phase of UDAN scheme.
Under the scheme, Assam airports may get connectivity to Bangkok in Thailand and Kathmandu in Nepal. Similarly, Bihar airports may get direct connectivity to airports in Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Sources said that the Centre's plan has got a positive response from stakeholders. Besides Assam government which has already shown interest, airlines like Spicejet are also interested in flying to popular destinations like Bangkok.
If the government moves according to plan, the Aviation Ministry will soon announce the scheme offering international flight tickets starting from Rs 2500.
The government recently invited bids for the third phase of UDAN scheme and received bids for 111 routes from 15 airlines.
SpiceJet and IndiGo have bid for 37 routes and 20 routes in the third round of auctions. Ghodawat Enterprises Private Limited has bid for total of 15 routes in this round.
The government, in its bid to make flying more affordable for the masses, had in 2016 announced the UDAN scheme wherein the fares were capped at Rs 2,500 for a one-hour journey for connecting smaller towns
Following this, five airlines got the licence to operate on 128 routes in the first round of auctions in March 2017, and 15 airlines on 325 routes, including those having chopper operations, in the second round in January this year.
The government is also planning to introduce seaplanes in the upcoming phase.
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