InterGlobe and Archer Aviation Join Forces to Revolutionize Urban Transportation in India
In a strategic move towards transforming urban mobility, InterGlobe Enterprises (Indigo), India's travel and hospitality conglomerate, and Archer Aviation Inc., a pioneer in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to introduce and operate an all-electric air taxi service in India, pending regulatory approvals.
InterGlobe and Archer envision providing a revolutionary transportation solution for India, enhancing urban mobility with a safe, sustainable, and low-noise electric air taxi service that is cost-competitive with ground transportation.
The MOU, signed by Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of InterGlobe, and Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer, lays the foundation for a partnership focused on transforming India's transportation landscape.
The collaboration plans to work with in-country business partners to operate Archer's aircraft, finance and develop vertiport infrastructure, and train personnel essential for these operations.
The partnership aims to finance the purchase of up to 200 of Archer's Midnight aircraft, a four-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft designed for rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between them.
With the Archer aircraft, the goal is to significantly reduce travel times, enabling passengers to cover the 27-kilometer Delhi trip from Connaught Place to Gurugram in approximately 7 minutes, compared to the typical 60 to 90 minutes by car.
In addition to urban air taxi services, the collaboration plans to explore various use cases for electric aircraft in India, including cargo, logistics, medical and emergency services, as well as private company and charter services.
Rahul Bhatia expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating, "We are excited at this new opportunity of bringing an effective, futuristic, and sustainable transport solution to India by introducing Archer's electric aircraft."
Archer CEO and Founder Adam Goldstein highlighted India as a significant opportunity for eVTOL aircraft utilization, given its large population and congestion challenges in major cities. The goal is to help decongest cities and provide a revolutionary transportation solution.
Nikhil Goel, Chief Commercial Officer of Archer Aviation, emphasized the joint goal of making cities greener, smarter, and more efficient, with a focus on starting with cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
The partnership between InterGlobe and Archer signals a transformative step towards sustainable and efficient urban transportation in India, bringing innovative eVTOL solutions to address the evolving mobility needs of India's growing population.