BEYOND THE RUNWAYS

The advent of Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft marks a crucial moment in the evolution of urban air mobility. The questions that hang in the air are as numerous as the propellers on an eVTOL. Are they feasible, are they viable, how will it work and what are the many issues that need attention? VISHAL DUGGAL reports

- VISHAL DUGGAL

Buckle up, folks! We're about to embark on a thrilling journey into the clouds, where the future of urban air mobility (UAM) is not merely a buzzword but a swiftly approaching reality. Picture this: after disembarking from your regular flight at Indira Gandhi International Airport, you quickly drive to a vertiport and reach your meeting at South Block or Connaught Place after landing at another vertiport in the vicinity in the time it talkers to savour your morning coffee. Sounds like a scene from a sci-fi blockbuster? It isn't. The era of hailing an air taxi is closer than you think.

Let's kick off with a big-ticket alliance that's set to redefine how we move around cities. InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo airlines, has joined forces with US-based Archer Aviation for the launch of short-hop air taxi flights nationwide, starting with the cities of Mumbai and Bengaluru and the Delhi capital region, in 2026! The deal to purchase up to 200 of Archer's "Midnight" Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for India operations is a whopping $ 500 million worth of commitment. Yes, you read that right half a billion dollars! This partnership marks a significant leap forward that propels India, known for its traffic gridlock, into the forefront of the UAM revolution, transforming the concept from a distant dream into a lifestyle choice set to unfold in the next couple of years.