Shankh Air has caught national attention as one of modern India’s most inspiring entrepreneurial journeys. Shankh Air is set to become Uttar Pradesh’s first locally-grown airline. The company recently received its No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and is expected to begin operations in early 2026.
With an initial fleet of three Airbus aircraft, the airline plans to connect Lucknow with Delhi, Mumbai, and other metro cities in its first phase. Shankh Air’s founder, Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma’s journey is one of quiet grit and steady ambition.
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Who is Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma?
Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, 35, founder of Shankh Air, comes from a middle-class family in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He has openly spoken about his early life, where academics did not interest him much. Just seven years ago, he was working as a loader and tempo driver, navigating the streets of Kanpur to earn a living.
As per the report of Jagran, he shares, “A person coming from the bottom up sees everything, bicycles, buses, trains, tempos-everything.” He has also shared, “I drove autos with acquaintances and tried a few small businesses, many of which failed,” before finding his footing in the cement trade in 2014.
His turning point came with success in the TMT rebar industry. From there, he expanded into cement, mining, and transport. Over time, he built a strong trucking network, which helped him create a stable business foundation and the confidence to think bigger.
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How Shankh Air took flight
The idea of starting an airline came to Vishwakarma around four years ago. “Once the thought struck me, I began understanding the process, how to get the NOC, what the rules are, and how the system works,” he said to PTI. “What started as an idea four years ago has now taken shape.”
Coming from modest circumstances, he admits that big dreams were once discouraged. “In the circumstances we grew up in, just earning a livelihood was seen as enough. Dreaming beyond that was almost unthinkable,” he said.
His vision for Shankh Air is rooted in accessibility. “An aircraft is just a means of transport, like a bus or a tempo. It should not be seen as something exclusive,” he said. With quiet determination and grounded optimism, Vishwakarma’s journey turns a simple dream into a soaring reality.
