Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) has partnered with city-based startup Sarla Aviation to introduce electric air taxi services, revolutionizing airport transfers. Named after Sarla Thakral, the first Indian woman to earn a pilot’s license in 1936, Sarla Aviation aims to enhance urban mobility using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology.
The planned service will connect Electronics City to the airport for ₹1,700, with a swift commute time of approximately 19 minutes. Sarla Aviation’s eVTOL aircraft are designed for short urban journeys, with a range of 20 to 40 kilometers and a maximum distance of up to 160 kilometers.
Safety Innovations
Adrian Schmidt, co-founder and CEO of Sarla Aviation, emphasized the safety features of their aircraft, stating they are “100 times safer than a helicopter.” The design includes multiple redundancy systems in critical components, reducing potential failure points. “Our system has zero single points of failure,” Schmidt explained, highlighting the aircraft’s seven propellers, which can compensate for any one propeller failure.
Future Developments
BIAL and Sarla Aviation will collaborate on developing the necessary airport infrastructure, operational models, and user flow maps to support the seamless integration of eVTOL services. Schmidt noted that Karnataka’s building regulations for skyscrapers already include provisions for helipads, facilitating the infrastructure needed for air taxis.
The CEO expressed optimism about the timeline for launching the service, projecting operations to commence within two to three years, thanks to support from state and central authorities. With advancements in battery and powertrain technology, he is confident that the company can maintain the proposed fare.
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