An official memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between Archer Aviation and InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, the leading airline in India, to work together on the introduction and management of an all-electric air taxi service in India.
The partnership intends to revolutionize urban mobility by offering an affordable, environmentally friendly, and noise-free electric air taxi service that can rival ground transportation, subject to regulatory clearances and approvals.
Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, and Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer, signed the Memorandum of Understanding.
Under the proposed partnership, Archer’s aircraft would be managed by close collaboration with domestic business partners, vertiport infrastructure would be developed, and personnel, including pilots, would be trained to ensure smooth operations.
A further goal of the partnership is to raise money for up to 200 Archer Midnight aircraft that will be used for operations in India.
The four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing Archer’s Midnight aircraft is piloted and built for quick back-to-back flights with little time needed to recharge in between.
The ultimate objective is to allow travelers to travel the 27-kilometer Delhi route in an astounding 7 minutes, from Connaught Place to Gurugram, which normally takes 60 to 90 minutes by car.
Apart from providing urban air taxi services, the partnership intends to investigate diverse applications of electric aircraft in India, such as freight transportation, logistics, emergency and medical services, private enterprise, and charter services.
Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, expressed enthusiasm about the new venture, stating, “Over the last two decades, InterGlobe has been involved in providing safe, efficient, and affordable transportation to hundreds of millions of Indians across the country. 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 major opportunity for eVTOL aircraft utilization, given its vast population and significant urban congestion challenges. Goldstein remarked, “Archer’s all-electric Midnight aircraft is designed to provide a revolutionary transportation solution that can help address these congestion issues.”
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