In collaboration with US-based Archer Aviation, InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, the biggest airline in India, will introduce an all-electric air taxi service in the nation by 2026.
By 2026, InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, the top airline in India, will launch an all-electric air taxi service in the country in association with US-based Archer Aviation. In just seven minutes, the service promises to deliver passengers from Connaught Place in New Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana.
200 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft with room for four passengers and a pilot are to be made available by Archer Aviation. These aircraft operate similarly to helicopters, but with enhanced safety features and less noise. The 200 aircraft in the fleet, each with 12 rotors, are expected to cost about $1 billion.
The joint venture between InterGlobe and Archer Aviation intends to first introduce comparable services in Mumbai and Bengaluru in addition to New Delhi. Executives at Archer Aviation anticipate that each passenger will pay between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 for the seven-minute ride from Connaught Place to Gurugram.
In relation to aircraft certification, Archer Aviation’s founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, disclosed that continuous talks are taking place with the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with a completion date of next year. The certification process by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India would start after FAA certification.
Goldstein stated that the business plans to deploy 200 Midnight aircraft for flying operations in India by 2026. The initial focus will be on New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The estimated flight time from Connaught Place to Gurugram is around 7 minutes, and each passenger would pay between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000.
The five-seater Midnight aircraft has six battery packs that enable a short recharging time of 30 to 40 minutes. It can carry a pilot and four passengers. Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel said that every minute of charging is equivalent to about one minute of flight time.
In addition to completing the terms of its joint venture with InterGlobe Enterprises, Archer Aviation is currently in talks with many towns about the necessary flying infrastructure. The business intends to take advantage of InterGlobe’s vast resources and might look for partners for its eVTOL operations in India.
The purchase of land for vertiports or launchpads, as well as other essential infrastructure for flying operations, is also being discussed. This year, Archer Aviation will set up shop in the US. With intentions to grow to 2,000 aircraft, the facility will initially be able to produce up to 650 aircraft.
In response to questions regarding Archer Aviation’s future manufacturing plans in India, Goldstein stated that the company had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with InterGlobe Enterprises, a well-known Indian travel company that owns IndiGo.
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