The companies anticipate that the air taxi service will significantly reduce travel time, with a trip from Delhi that typically takes 60 to 90 minutes by car being completed in approximately 7 minutes.
Updated Nov 9, 2023 | 08:50 PM IST
India Eyes E-Air Taxis by 2026: 90-Minute Car Trip to Shrink to 7 Minutes (Representative image)
New Delhi: InterGlobe Enterprises, the major supporter of India’s leading airline, IndiGo, is partnering with US-based Archer Aviation to introduce an all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026, news agency Reuters reported. Positioned as “cost-competitive” with on-road services, the initiative aims to address the increasing demand for efficient transport solutions in India, grappling with severe ground travel congestion and pollution in major cities.
Archer Aviation, supported by industry giants like Stellantis, Boeing, and United Airlines, specializes in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, considered the future of urban air mobility. The ‘Midnight’ e-aircraft, capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot for up to 100 miles, will debut with 200 aircraft in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
The companies anticipate that the air taxi service will significantly reduce travel time, with a trip from Delhi that typically takes 60 to 90 minutes by car being completed in approximately 7 minutes. Beyond passenger services, InterGlobe Enterprises plans to leverage the e-aircraft for cargo, logistics, medical, emergency, and charter services.
Archer Aviation, having secured a $142 million deal from the US Air Force, is also set to launch an air taxi service in the UAE. The announcement saw a positive market response, with Archer Aviation’s shares rising 1.5% in US premarket trading, and InterGlobe Aviation’s closing up 0.12% ahead of the news.
Credit: Source link
