In a transformative move for urban mobility in India, aviation authorities have initiated a highly anticipated air taxi plan. US manufacturer Archer has been enlisted for this significant project, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) targeting a 2026 launch. The best part? The service is expected to be affordable for travelers.
The aviation ministry has launched the urban air mobility project, setting up several technical committees to facilitate the debut of India's first air taxi by 2026, a plan that has been in the works for some time.
This project has garnered significant interest from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely expected to secure a decisive victory in the upcoming elections.
According to a June 3 report by Saurabh Sinha in the Times of India, the committees established by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will guide the introduction of air taxis in major cities such as Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru by 2026. Expansion to other cities like Chennai and Hyderabad is planned for later phases.
Once India finalizes regulations for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE), the parent company of IndiGo, will collaborate with American air taxi manufacturer Archer Aviation to develop the necessary infrastructure.
Sources indicate that India will be ahead of the curve in regulatory preparedness for eVTOL services for urban air mobility.
An Archer team has already met with Indian aviation authorities to discuss the program's rollout. InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE) is in regular contact with the regulator for this initiative. Rahul Bhatia, IGE's chief, has ordered 200 Midnight air taxis from Archer, valued at around one billion dollars. Archer aims to start operations in the US, beginning with New York and Chicago next year, before introducing air taxis in India and the UAE. Bhatia recently visited Archer's US headquarters to inspect the eVTOL.
Bhatia believes that urban air mobility will significantly alleviate congestion in Indian cities. "Urban (air) mobility is going to do what mobile telephony did to India (for communications in the mid-1980s). They were able to leapfrog people’s ability to communicate. This (air taxi) is not different and will work very powerfully in the country," he said.
The Times of India noted that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently released the final airworthiness criteria for Archer’s Midnight aircraft for public inspection.
An Archer statement from late May highlights, "This significant regulatory milestone provides the path for Archer to achieve type certification for Midnight… unlocks the ability to work with FAA to obtain the remaining final approvals on its certification, test plans... and prepares to begin its piloted flight testing later this year."
Indian aviation authorities are expected to outline detailed technical requirements for air taxis before proceeding further, the report added.
Expected Fares
According to Nikhil Goel, the Indian-origin Chief Commercial Officer of Boeing-backed Archer, the cost per passenger is anticipated to be only a "slight premium" over Uber. "Delhi-Gurgaon, for instance, costs Rs 1,500-2,000 by Uber. An air taxi (per passenger) will cost up to 1.5 times that or Rs 2,000-3,000," Goel was quoted as saying.
Current Project Status
Archer is set to begin production of its Midnight air taxis at its Georgia factory this year. The company is also partnering with automotive giant Stellantis to manufacture air taxis in various locations, including India. United Airlines is a significant investor in Archer, with a firm order for 200 eVTOLs valued at $1 billion and an option to order 100 more.
Boeing is contributing autonomous technology for next-generation eVTOLs, while Stellantis is assisting with large-scale manufacturing best practices. Stellantis, formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group, is an Amsterdam-based automotive manufacturing company.
Less Polluting, Quieter Option
eVTOLs take off and land vertically like conventional helicopters. According to a recent Economic Times report, these electric taxis have a much lower emission footprint and are expected to be significantly quieter, reducing noise pollution.
This ambitious project represents a significant leap forward in India's urban mobility landscape, promising to transform the way people navigate congested cities.
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