IndiGo airlines plans to deploy its first all-electric taxi in partnership with Archer Aviation in 2026 on the Connaught Place to Gurugram route, connecting New Delhi to Haryana in just 7 minutes.
Archer Aviation all-electric jet. (Photo credit: X/ @ArcherAviation)
New Delhi: Budget carrier IndiGo plans to go hyperlocal with its travel offerings by entering the intra-city travel space using all-electric air taxis which are expected to slash the travel time between Delhi and Gurugram to just 7 minutes! IndiGo has inked an agreement with US-based Archer Aviation to roll out the service in India.
IndiGo air taxi tentatuve route
IndiGo airlines is likley to launch the electric air taxi in Delhi from Connaught Place offering connectivity to Gurugram in Haryana. A cursory glance at Google Maps pegs the travel time anywhere upward of 30 minutes by road and 1.30 hours by metro.
IndiGo air taxis specs
- The IndiGo air taxi supplied by Archer Aviation will sport a 200 electrical vertical takeoff.
- The aircraft will be able to accommodate 4 passengers and a pilot
- The aircraft will make less noise and offer greater safety than a traditional helicopter
- It will sport 6 battery packs capable of full charge in 30-40 minutes
- 1 minute of charging can lead to a minute of flight
How much will the IndiGo air taxi cost?
- The all-electric air taxi from CP to Gurugram is likely to cost Rs 2,000-3,000 per head.
- To compare, a car journey from CP to Gurugram is likely to cost Rs 1,500, according to Archer Aviation CEO Adam Goldstein.
- IndiGo eventually plans to expand the service to Mumbai and Bengaluru.
Where is Archer Aviation based?
Archer Aviation is a US-based company which is set to start its manufacturing facility in the country this year with an initial output capacity of 600 electric planes which is likely to be scaled up to 2,000 planes.
The companies are exploring licenses for vertiports and launchpads that will support all-electric air taxis. Archer Aviation may eventually explore domestic production of its EVTOL aircraft in India.
The company is in the process of securing the US FAA’s nod for its jet certification. This will be followed by a similar application to Idnia’s aviation watchdog, the DGCA.
