InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo Airlines, has announced plans to launch electric air taxi across India by 2026. The project will be implemented in partnership with Archer Aviation, based in the USA.
It is specified that Archer Aviation will provide 200 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, known as Midnight, designed like conventional helicopters but with reduced noise levels and improved safety features. Each cabin of Air Taxi can accommodate up to five people, including the pilot and four passengers.
The Midnight aircraft, equipped with six battery packs, features fast charging, taking only half an hour. The charging time-to-flight duration ratio is 1:1 (in minutes).
This innovative transportation will reduce travel time between Connaught Place in Delhi and Gurugram to seven minutes, compared to the usual 1.5-hour drive. The service will later expand to Mumbai and Bangalore. Currently, negotiations are underway with city municipalities to establish the necessary infrastructure.
It is expected that the cost of a trip for one passenger will range from 2,000 to 3,000 rupees.