From Tempo Driver to Airline Founder: Shankh Air Story

Shankh Air has become a major topic of discussion across the country after receiving approval from the Civil Aviation Ministry, led by Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Along with two other new airlines, Shankh Air has received the green signal to begin operations, drawing special attention as Uttar Pradesh’s first homegrown airline.

The airline is founded by Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, whose journey began as a tempo driver in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Born into a poor family, he dropped out of school due to financial difficulties and worked tirelessly to earn a living. Despite hardships, he dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur and steadily worked toward building his future.

After finding success in cement, steel, building materials, transport, and mining businesses, Shravan founded Shankh Aviation Private Limited in 2023. Shankh Air received its No Objection Certificate in December 2025 and is set to launch operations in January – February 2026 with three Airbus aircraft. The airline will initially connect Lucknow with major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, later expanding to routes such as Varanasi and Gorakhpur.