InterGlobe Enterprises partners with Archer Aviation to launch a futuristic all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026

By 2026, IndiGo's parent firm, InterGlobe Enterprises, and US-based electric aviation pioneer Archer Aviation will introduce an advanced all-electric air taxi service in India. The ground-breaking all-electric air taxi will make the seven-minute trip from Connaught Place in Delhi to Gurugram, Haryana, faster than the usual ninety-minute road trip.

These air taxis are electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which are safer and quieter than standard helicopters. Two hundred of these 'Midnight' model aircraft, each seating four passengers including the pilot, will be produced by Archer Aviation. Notably, it only takes 30 to 40 minutes to fully charge the taxis, and every minute of charging equates to one minute of flight time.

Executives at Archer Aviation believe that a seven-minute flight from Connaught Place to Gurugram in Haryana, utilizing their five-seater eVTOL aircraft, could cost between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000. 

To put this into perspective, the same distance would cost approximately Rs 500 for a ride using a traditional app-based taxi service. Although the air taxi service is more expensive, the journey time is significantly reduced.

Archer Aviation plans to take the aircraft to India next year, for demonstration flights after it has completed testing in California. The business is now collaborating closely with the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States to obtain the required certificates, which should be obtained by the end of the next year. 

They will next apply to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in India for permission to start doing business by 2026.