IndiGo Accelerates Electric Air Taxi Ambitions As It Chases 2026-Deadline

Moving InterGlobe Enterprises one step closer to its goal of deploying electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft by 2026, Group Managing Director Rahul Bhatia recently paid a visit to Archer Aviation's headquarters.

"We are excited to work together to launch what has the potential to be the largest global eVTOL market with India's aviation leader to help elevate urban mobility and make a positive impact on congestion,” added Goldstein.

California-based Archer last year entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, to introduce electric air taxis in India, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals and clearances.

The partnership will, in a joint venture, own and operate 200 of Archer’s 'Midnight' aircraft, valued at $1 billion.

The goal is for a passenger on an InterGlobe-Archer flight to be able to fly the 27-km Delhi trip from Connaught Place to Gurugram, typically taking 60 to 90 minutes by car, in approximately 7 minutes.

Archer’s Midnight aircraft is a piloted, four-passenger electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.

For commercial operations, Archer is in the final stages of securing approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. The company anticipates receiving these approvals next year, following which it will proceed to seek clearances in India.

The company aims to begin trials of its electric air taxi in India next year, ahead of a planned commercial launch in 2026, Adam Goldstein told Reuters.