• Source:JND
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Air Taxi: In a step towards the future of urban transportation, India is paving the way for the introduction of air taxis in major cities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has set up multiple technical committees to lay the groundwork for this transformative initiative, with the aim of launching air taxi services in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru by 2026, followed by other metropolitan areas such as Chennai and Hyderabad.

The project has garnered the attention of industry players, with IndiGo's parent company, InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE), collaborating with the American air taxi manufacturer, Archer Aviation, to establish the necessary infrastructure once the regulatory framework is in place. India's aviation authorities will outline the technical standards that air taxis must meet to operate within the country, ensuring the safety and efficiency of these new modes of transportation.

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According to sources, DGCA has formed several panels to address various aspects of air taxis, including air navigation, operational routes and safety standards for vertiports (landing pads for air taxis). The goal is to have everything in readiness for the launch of air taxi services by 2026, positioning India at the forefront of regulatory preparedness for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) services.

In a development, IGE Chief Rahul Bhatia has placed an order for 200 Midnight air taxis from Archer, valued at around a billion dollars. Archer, whose Indian-origin Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel has stated that the cost per passenger for air taxi services would be only a "slight premium" over popular ride-hailing services, aims to commence operations in the United States next year, with plans to expand to India and the UAE shortly thereafter.

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Bhatia, during his visit to Archer's US headquarters, mentioned the transformative potential of urban air mobility in India, drawing a parallel to the revolutionary impact of mobile telephony in the mid-1980s. He projected that air taxis could revolutionise urban transportation, with a Delhi-Gurgaon trip potentially costing between Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per passenger, a slight increase from the current Uber fares of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.