Flying taxis could soon take off in Bengaluru, offering faster commutes to the airport: Report

Bengaluru aims to ease traffic with electric flying taxis to Kempegowda International Airport, potentially cutting travel time from 1.5 hours to 5 minutes.

Published on: Oct 15, 2024, 12:32:11 IST

By Yamini C S

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Bengaluru's notorious traffic jams may soon be a thing of the past—at least for those heading to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). A new collaboration between Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and Sarla Aviation aims to introduce electric flying taxis to the city, the Moneycontrol reported. This step could drastically reduce travel times between the airport and key locations within Bengaluru, such as Electronics City.

The partnership focuses on developing advanced air mobility solutions using seven-seater eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft. These flying taxis promise not only to be faster and quieter than traditional helicopters but also more eco-friendly, the report stated. The goal is to cut travel times while reducing carbon emissions, marking a significant shift in how people move through cities like Bengaluru, which struggles with severe congestion.

A journey from the central district of Indiranagar to the airport, which can take up to 1.5 hours, could be reduced to just 5 minutes with these air taxis. Sarla Aviation CEO Adrian Schmidt spoke to the publication and described this initiative as a game-changer for the city, paving the way for affordable air travel similar to ride-sharing apps like Uber.

Though exciting, the project is still in its early stages. A prototype is yet to be built, and regulatory approvals could take years. BIAL insiders suggest that it may be at least two to three years before the service launches, the publication added.

However, the potential is undeniable. With companies like Sarla Aviation leading the charge, Bengaluru might soon join the ranks of cities exploring futuristic air mobility solutions to alleviate traffic woes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More