In a city where a 36-kilometre commute can quietly consume two exhausting hours, a radical shift in urban travel is now on the horizon. The country’s IT capital, long synonymous with gridlocked roads and
crawling traffic, is preparing to take to the skies.
Bengaluru is set to introduce air taxis, promising to transform one of its most time-consuming routes into an 8-minute air travel. The proposed service will operate between Kempegowda International Airport and UB City, a stretch that frequently tests the patience of commuters navigating the city’s notorious congestion.
Today, a journey by car or auto-rickshaw along this corridor can take up to two hours during peak traffic. The air taxi aims to cut that duration dramatically.
The initiative is being spearheaded by aerospace start-up The ePlane Company. According to Vikalp, the company’s marketing head, operations will begin with an air ambulance service targeted for launch around September or October 2027. Approximately six months after securing regulatory approvals for the emergency medical service, the company plans to roll out commercial air taxi operations.
Industry observers say the move could mark a significant step in easing pressure on urban roads while introducing a new layer to the city’s mobility ecosystem. While air taxis are often perceived as a luxury reserved for the elite, pricing projections suggest otherwise. A conventional cab ride from the airport to the city currently costs around Rs 1,000. The proposed air taxi fare is expected to be approximately Rs 1,700.
For many, the additional cost may be justified by the substantial time saved. In a city where productivity and punctuality are often compromised by traffic snarls, an 8-minute commute in place of a 2-hour drive could prove to be more than just a convenience, it could redefine the value of time itself.
