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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated airports developed under regional connectivity UDAN scheme at Madhya Pradesh's Rewa, Chhattisgarh's Ambikapur, and Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur on Sunday from Varanasi on the eve of the 8th anniversary of national civil aviation policy (NCAP) 2016. Subsidised regional connectivity flights will soon operate from these airports, creating numerous opportunities for economic growth and regional development. Govt incentivizes the sector with steps like 100% tax exemptions for UDAN airport projects for 10 years and complete customs duty exemptions for maintenance, repair, and overhaul service providers. Rahul Bhatia, MD of InterGlobe Aviation and IndiGo, praised the govt for the speed and ease of developing regional connectivity airports. Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube said, "A golden decade of airlines is coming. I see a lot of profitability for the next 10 years." Jaideep Mirchandani, chairman of Sky One, said, "Air travel has transitioned from 'exclusive' to 'inclusive' due to many reasons, including the expansion of air services to smaller cities.." According to IBEF, there is a growing demand for air travel in India, projecting a need for over 2,200 aircraft by 2042. Over 30 airport development projects are underway in Northeast India. Joshua Ng, director at Alton Aviation Consultancy, said, "India has the right ingredients to make things happen, and they are going in the right direction. There are many tailwinds in Indian aviation sector." The PM flagged off the first UDAN flight on Shimla-Delhi sector on April 27, 2017. Since then, more than 1.4 crore passengers have taken UDAN flights on 600 routes, as per the aviation ministry. The scheme includes aircraft ranging from Airbus A320/Boeing 737 to small planes and choppers, bringing air connectivity to small towns.

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