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Out of 450 airstrips in India, only 157 are actually being used. The rest are mostly ignored, scattered across small towns and rural areas, just sitting there. Now, startups like LAT Aerospace, backed by Deepinder Goyal, are looking at them in a new way. They’re not building a regular airline. They’re creating a new kind of regional travel system using small planes, flying short routes, with as little hassle as possible. The idea is to make flying feel more like taking a bus than catching a flight. If this model works, it could create a whole new setup for local trade. Think about cargo moving 200 kilometres at a time between Tier 2 towns, linking smaller factories, storage areas, and local delivery hubs. This could reduce how much we rely on slow trucks and weak road systems. Fast delivery services, pharma companies, and B2B suppliers could benefit the most. But to make this work, India will need new kinds of infrastructure like small air cargo stations, planes built for goods, and smart systems to manage routes and loading. When connectivity improves, land value usually goes up. For example, property around Navi Mumbai’s upcoming airport has doubled in price over the last five years. That’s a sign. If regional air travel spreads to 100 smaller towns, land prices there could jump too. But right now, visibility is the missing piece. Investors and builders need better tools to track zoning changes, budgets for airstrip revival, and upcoming projects before everyone else finds out. Whoever builds this information layer early could lead the next big wave in real estate. One more thing. India’s small aircraft industry is still not strong. We don’t have enough companies making parts, handling maintenance, or offering proper training for these smaller planes. Older aerospace firms focus on big jets, not 9 or 20 seater aircraft. That leaves a big gap. Just like how EVs started taking shape in 2018, this is a moment for early players to step in and build everything from repair services to pilot simulators to upgraded plane designs. Planes aren’t products. Access is!