Connecting cities to airports HELI-TAXIS ARE OUT, AIR TAXIS ARE IN

As heli-taxis falter, electric air taxis promise to transform urban connectivity. Yet, scalability, regulations, and operational challenges must be overcome for them to deliver efficient, affordable city-airport travel, reviews

- RASHEED KAPPAN

Futuristic in design, massive in scale, green-field airports might radiate a lot of glitter due to their proven potential to capitalise on the booming aviation sector. But what if the distance from the city they serve is long and taxing enough to negate that edge? If connectivity by road and rail is not fast enough, can heli-taxis and electric air taxis fill the gap? Nothing could be trickier.

India’s third busiest, the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, had everything going for it. Exponential year-on-year growth both in passenger traffic and cargo over 16 years had it emerge as the pre-eminent gateway to South India. Yet, it has faltered big time on fast connectivity to the city proper, located a good 40km away. With heli-taxis failing to take off despite attempts by multiple players, the focus has now shifted to electric air taxis with vertical take-off capability.

The plan is this: The Bengaluru

International Airport Limited (BIAL) and a city-based startup, Sarla Aviation, will collaborate to develop an electric air taxi service for airport transfers. Based on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology, the project could see the first flight take off three years from now. A formal collaboration agreement was inked in October 2024.

Affordability as game-changer

The technology, which leverages electric power to hover, take off and land vertically, has been in the works for years globally. Major advances in motors, batteries, fuel cells and electronic controllers have fine-tuned it to soon meet the stringent demands of aviation safety. But the game-changer could be its actual operation as an affordable airport – city commute mode.