Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma’s story is one of remarkable transformation — from humble beginnings on the streets of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to becoming the founder and chairman of India’s newest airline, Shankh Air. At 35 years old, Vishwakarma spent much of his early life working as a loader and tempo driver, doing odd jobs and even driving auto-rickshaws to make ends meet. Over time, he tried several small businesses, some of which failed, before finding a breakthrough in the cement trade in 2014, which paved the way for ventures in steel (TMT rebar), mining and transport, eventually building a substantial logistics empire with a fleet of over 400 trucks.

Around four years ago, the idea of entering the aviation sector took shape. Vishwakarma began studying regulatory requirements, securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and shaping his vision of an airline that makes air travel accessible to the middle class rather than an exclusive privilege. Shankh Air is slated to begin operations in early 2026 with an initial fleet of three Airbus aircraft, initially connecting Lucknow with Delhi, Mumbai and other metro cities, with plans to scale its fleet significantly in the coming years and potentially enter international routes by 2028–29.

Vishwakarma’s journey — from driving tempos and autos to establishing a full-fledged airline — has captured widespread attention and serves as a powerful inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, emphasising that vision, persistence and hard-earned experience can propel even the most unlikely founders into highly capital-intensive industries.