This ambitious initiative, contingent upon regulatory approvals, aims to revolutionize urban mobility, offering a safe, sustainable, and low-noise electric air taxi service that is cost-competitive with ground transportation
InterGlobe Enterprises, a leading travel and hospitality conglomerate in India, and Archer Aviation Inc., a pioneer in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, have unveiled plans to introduce an all-electric air taxi service across India by 2026. This ambitious initiative, contingent upon regulatory approvals, aims to revolutionize urban mobility, offering a safe, sustainable, and low-noise electric air taxi service that is cost-competitive with ground transportation.
The strategic partnership outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) involves collaboration with in-country business partners to operate Archer’s cutting-edge Midnight aircraft, construct vertiport infrastructure, and facilitate the training of pilots and essential personnel. Additionally, the partnership plans to secure funding for up to 200 Midnight aircraft to support operations in India.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted four-passenger eVTOL, is designed for swift, consecutive flights with minimal recharge time. The objective is to reduce the travel time between destinations significantly, with a 27-km trip from Connaught Place to Gurugram, which typically takes 60 to 90 minutes by car, achieved in approximately 7 minutes.
Beyond urban air taxi services, the collaborative effort envisions diverse applications for electric aircraft in India, encompassing cargo transportation, logistics, medical and emergency services, as well as private company and charter services.
As cities grapple with unsustainable congestion, the InterGlobe-Archer collaboration presents an innovative step towards creating greener, smarter, and more efficient urban spaces
Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited at this new opportunity of bringing an effective, futuristic, and sustainable transport solution by introducing Archer’s electric aircraft to India.”
Archer’s CEO and Founder, Adam Goldstein, highlighted the significance of India as a vast market for eVTOL aircraft utilization, given its massive population and urban congestion challenges. Goldstein commented, “Archer’s all-electric Midnight aircraft is designed to provide a revolutionary transportation solution that can help address these congestion issues.”
Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer Aviation, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the goal to “fundamentally transform mobility across the country,” starting with major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
The move aligns with the escalating urbanization trend globally, as recognized by the World Bank, projecting a doubling of the urban population by 2050. Archer’s innovative electric air taxis are positioned as a solution to address these urbanization challenges, offering a sustainable, low-noise alternative for the rapidly growing Indian economy on its trajectory toward a $5 trillion valuation. As cities grapple with unsustainable congestion, the InterGlobe-Archer collaboration presents an innovative step towards creating greener, smarter, and more efficient urban spaces.
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