UDAN scheme: Daman gets first direct Delhi flight via NAMO Airport
Synopsis
For the first time, Daman has a direct flight to Delhi — and it took a ₹124 crore airport built on Coast Guard land and PM Modi's UDAN scheme to make it happen. With 7,000 industries nearby and 20 lakh annual tourists, the real question is how fast the runway expansion follows to bring in A320s and unlock Daman's full economic potential.
Key Takeaways
Alliance Air launched the inaugural Daman-Delhi-Daman flight on 17 July , Daman's first-ever direct air link to the capital.
NAMO Airport was inaugurated by PM Modi on 5 June , built at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site.
The flight cuts travel time from 8-10 hours by road to 2.5 hours by air.
The airport can handle 14 ATR flights per day with an annual capacity of 3.67 lakh passengers.
The UDAN scheme has been extended for 10 years with a ₹29,000 crore outlay to build 100 new airports and 200 helipads .
Runway expansion to accommodate Airbus A320 -type aircraft and new routes to Mumbai , Surat , Ahmedabad , and Patna are planned.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Friday, 17 July flagged off the inaugural Alliance Air flight on the Daman-Delhi-Daman route from the newly operational NAMO Airport, marking what he called a historic milestone for the Union Territory. The launch, attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UDAN scheme, gives Daman its first-ever direct air connection to the national capital.
What the New Flight Changes
The direct service slashes travel time between Daman and New Delhi from nearly 8-10 hours by road to approximately 2.5 hours by air. Minister Naidu described the launch as a transformative step for the region, noting that improved connectivity would accelerate tourism, trade, investment, and employment in the Union Territory.
About NAMO Airport
NAMO Airport is a dual-use facility operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS) in Daman. It was inaugurated by PM Modi on 5 June after its foundation stone was laid in April 2023. Developed by the Union Territory Administration at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site, the airport features a 3,700-square metre terminal capable of handling 14 ATR flights per day and an annual passenger capacity of 3.67 lakh.
Economic and Tourism Potential
Naidu highlighted that Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli together host more than 7,000 industries, with an additional 15,000 industries operating in neighbouring Vapi and Valsad. He added that nearly 20 lakh tourists visit Daman annually, and the new air service is expected to significantly boost those arrivals. The region's industrial density makes improved air access a direct lever for business travel and foreign investment, according to the minister.
Expansion Plans and UDAN's Extended Mandate
The government is also planning to extend the airport's runway to accommodate larger aircraft, including Airbus A320-type planes, and to add connectivity to cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna. This comes amid a broader renewal of the UDAN scheme, which has been extended for another 10 years with an outlay of ₹29,000 crore to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads under the modified programme. The scheme has already been credited with linking dozens of smaller Indian cities to the national air network since its launch.
With runway expansion and new routes on the horizon, Daman's aviation story appears to be just beginning.
Point of View
But the NAMO Airport's ATR-only capacity is already its ceiling — handling just 14 turboprop flights a day leaves little room for the kind of passenger volumes that would meaningfully move tourism or industrial investment. The planned A320 runway expansion is the real test: without it, this remains a symbolic milestone rather than an economic inflection point. The UDAN scheme's ₹29,000 crore extension is ambitious, but its track record on route sustainability — many UDAN routes have been discontinued due to low commercial viability — raises legitimate questions about whether Daman's new Delhi link will still be flying in five years without continued subsidy.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UDAN scheme and how does it connect to Daman's new Delhi flight?
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is the Indian government's regional air connectivity scheme aimed at linking smaller cities to major destinations at affordable fares. The Daman-Delhi direct flight launched on 17 July is a direct outcome of this scheme, which subsidises operations on underserved routes to make them commercially viable.
What is NAMO Airport in Daman?
NAMO Airport is a dual-use civilian airport operating from the Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS) in Daman. Inaugurated by PM Modi on 5 June, it was built at a cost of ₹124 crore on a 25-acre site and can handle 14 ATR flights per day with an annual passenger capacity of 3.67 lakh.
How much does the new flight reduce travel time between Daman and Delhi?
The Alliance Air direct flight reduces travel time from approximately 8-10 hours by road to around 2.5 hours by air, according to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
What are the expansion plans for NAMO Airport?
The government plans to extend the runway to accommodate larger Airbus A320-type aircraft and add new routes to Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, and Patna. These upgrades are intended to increase both passenger capacity and commercial viability of the airport.
How much has the government committed to the extended UDAN scheme?
The UDAN scheme has been extended for 10 years with an outlay of ₹29,000 crore. Under the modified programme, the government aims to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads across India.
