InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, has joined forces with California-based Archer Aviation to bring electric air taxis to India. The collaboration is aimed at revolutionizing the travel experience, reducing the journey time between Delhi’s Connaught Place and Gurugram from the current 60-90 minutes to a mere 7 minutes. In addition to passenger transport, this partnership will explore the use of electric aircraft in various sectors like cargo, logistics, medical services, emergency services, and private charters.
As part of the collaboration, funding will be provided for up to 200 of Archer’s Midnight aircraft for operations in India. The Midnight aircraft is a four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle that offers rapid and continuous flights with minimal charging time between trips.
Rahul Bhatia, InterGlobe’s Group Managing Director, expressed enthusiasm for providing India with an efficient, futuristic, and sustainable transportation solution. Nikhil Goel, Archer’s Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the immense opportunity in India for utilizing eVTOL aircraft due to the country’s large population of over 1.4 billion and its cities facing severe congestion challenges.
While this collaboration is groundbreaking, it is not the first of its kind in India. FlyBlade India, a helicopter services provider, previously placed an order for up to 200 eVTOLs from Eve, which is backed by Embraer. Additionally, FlyBlade India partnered with Jaunt Air Mobility to launch an eVTOL service in India by 2027. The partnership between InterGlobe and Archer represents a significant step towards efficient, sustainable, and rapid urban air mobility in India as technology continues to shape the future of transportation.
