InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, has joined forces with Archer Aviation to bring an all-electric air taxi service to India. The two companies plan to launch this service by 2026, offering a quick and efficient travel option between cities.
For instance, the service will enable passengers to travel from Connaught Place in New Delhi to Gurugram in just 7 minutes, a journey that would typically take around 90 minutes by car.
The air taxis will be electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which are designed to operate similarly to helicopters but with less noise and enhanced safety.
The cost for a 7-minute flight is expected to be around ₹2,000 to ₹3,000.
Initially, the service will focus on Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with plans to expand further. This innovative mode of transportation could significantly reduce travel time and contribute to sustainable aviation in India.
Archer Aviation's eVTOL aircraft are planned to transport people in and around cities in an air taxi service and are claimed to have a range of up to 100 miles (160 km) at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h).
 |
| Archer Midnight Hero |
 |
| Archer Midnight interior |
 |
| Midnight side profile |
Archer's Midnight, a pilot-plus-four-passenger eVTOL aircraft, is designed to be safe, sustainable, quiet and, with its expected payload of over 1,000 pounds, can carry four passengers plus a pilot. Midnight is optimized for back-to-back short distance trips of around 20-miles, with a charging time of approximately 10 minutes in-between.
IndiGo, through its parent company InterGlobe Enterprises, has placed an order for 200 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Archer Aviation. These aircraft are part of their plan to introduce an all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026, aiming to offer a quick and efficient travel option between cities.
IndiGo, through its parent company InterGlobe Enterprises, has placed an order for 200 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Archer Aviation. These aircraft are part of their plan to introduce an all-electric air taxi service in India by 2026, aiming to offer a quick and efficient travel option between cities.
Archer's first demonstrator aircraft, called Maker, is a two-passenger fully electric aircraft with 12 electric propellers. It's designed for both forward and VTOL flight and can travel at up to 150 mph over 60 miles (97 km). Maker has received its airworthiness certificate from the FAA and completed its first flight in December 2021.
Archer's aerial ridesharing service, also referred to as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), is planned to begin operations in 2025 in Miami, Florida, and Los Angeles, California. The company is working with various stakeholders to build the necessary infrastructure and service routes to support this new mode of transportation.
Besides IndiGo, several other airlines across the globe are exploring similar initiatives involving electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Lufthansa Group has partnered with Lilium, an eVTOL aircraft manufacturer, to build a greener aviation network across Europe.
flynas, a leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Eve Air Mobility to explore the future of eVTOL aircraft operations in Saudi Arabia. The two are considering starting eVTOL operations in Riyadh and Jeddah by 2026.
United Airlines, which is Archer Aviation's first major corporate partner, along with its regional partner Mesa Airlines, has pre-ordered 200 of Archer Aviation's Maker electric air taxis. United paid Archer $10M of pre-delivery payments for 100 aircraft of the total 200.
United Airlines, which is Archer Aviation's first major corporate partner, along with its regional partner Mesa Airlines, has pre-ordered 200 of Archer Aviation's Maker electric air taxis. United paid Archer $10M of pre-delivery payments for 100 aircraft of the total 200.
Advertisements