From Tempo Driver to Airline Founder: The Extraordinary Journey of Shankh Air’s Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma

By TVW News Desk | Updated January 2026 – In a nation where the aviation industry is often dominated by conglomerates and legacy families, the rise of Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma, founder of Shankh Airlines, reads like a cinematic rags-to-riches story — yet it’s entirely real.

The Man Behind the Dream

Born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma grew up in a lower-middle-class household where meeting daily expenses was often a challenge. A self-described “restless learner,” he dropped out of school early, finding the classroom stifling but the streets instructive.

In his early twenties, Shravan took up work as a loader and tempo driver in Kanpur. These were years of hard labor and meager earnings, but they also gave him firsthand insight into India’s grassroots logistics ecosystem. “That’s where I understood movement — how goods, people, and opportunity travel in India,” he later said in an interview.

The Business Journey: Building Brick by Brick

1. The Turning Point (2014–2015)

Around 2014, Shravan decided to step away from driving and start trading in construction materials — specifically TMT steel bars and cement — a decision that coincided with Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructure boom. This small but significant pivot marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

2. Scaling Up (2016–2021): The Logistics Empire

By 2016, Shravan had realized that his profits were being eroded by the high cost of renting trucks. Instead of outsourcing, he began buying his own vehicles, building a self-sustained logistics operation.

What began with a few second-hand trucks has today grown into a fleet of over 400 vehicles, forming the backbone of his logistics and construction supply network.

His company diversified under multiple arms — Shankh Agencies Pvt. Ltd. (incorporated in June 2022) and Shankh Builders — creating a closed-loop business model where he mined raw materials, transported them using his own trucks, and sold them through his own agencies.

3. Financial Fortitude

Unlike most modern startups, Shravan’s empire grew without external funding. He claims no venture capital or loans, relying purely on business reinvestment.

While viral posts cited a ₹50 crore “turnover,” official filings show that Shankh Aviation Private Limited — his aviation venture — has a paid-up capital of ₹50 crore, signaling a serious and well-funded entry into the aviation sector.

The Crown Jewel: Shankh Air

Inception and Vision

Shravan first conceived the idea of launching an airline in 2021, inspired by the inefficiencies he observed in ground transport and regional travel. Determined to learn the aviation business from the ground up, he spent the next several years studying DGCA regulations, the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process, and the economics of running an airline.

Status (January 2026)

In December 2025, Shankh Air received its NOC from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a key milestone toward full operational clearance. The airline is now in the process of obtaining its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) — the final step before commencing flights.

Launch and Operations

Set to begin operations in Q1 2026, Shankh Air will be Uttar Pradesh’s first scheduled airline, headquartered between Lucknow and Noida.

The airline will launch with three Boeing 737-800NG aircraft, leased through international partners. Early rumors of Airbus involvement were dismissed following verified regulatory filings.

Initial Routes:

• Lucknow ↔ Varanasi

• Lucknow ↔ Gorakhpur

• Lucknow ↔ Delhi / Mumbai

The airline’s focus is on intra-state connectivity and linking Uttar Pradesh to major metros — an underserved segment that aligns with India’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) vision of regional air mobility.

Why Shankh Air Matters

What sets Shravan apart isn’t just his unprecedented journey from a tempo driver to an airline owner — it’s his approach to business.

In multiple interviews, he’s emphasized that traditional aviation ventures collapse under excessive credit dependence. Shankh Air, by contrast, operates on a “cash-carry” principle, mirroring the discipline that sustained his trucking and steel trading operations.

This approach — pragmatic, frugal, and asset-backed — could rewrite the playbook for small-scale entrepreneurs aspiring to enter capital-intensive industries.

Comparisons and Legacy

Observers have drawn parallels between Shravan and Captain Gopinath, the pioneer behind Air Deccan, India’s first low-cost carrier. Yet Shravan’s story stands out: he isn’t a pilot or a military veteran — he’s a self-made businessman who literally rose from the driver’s seat to the captain’s chair.

If his airline takes off as planned, Shankh Air could mark a defining moment in the decentralization of India’s aviation sector — bringing industry ownership to states and individuals far removed from traditional business power centers.

The Road Ahead

As of early 2026, Shankh Air is in final preparations for its commercial debut. The founder’s journey continues to inspire countless Indians who see in him a reflection of their own aspirations — proof that determination, patience, and persistence can defy every odd.

“I’ve driven trucks, carried loads, and built my business one brick at a time,” Shravan said in his exclusive interview.
“Now I want to carry the dreams of people who never imagined they could fly.”