In a significant development for India’s aviation sector, major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai could soon witness the introduction of air taxis. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is laying the groundwork for these operations, with a potential rollout projected for 2026. On Friday, the DGCA released new regulations for the establishment of ‘vertiports’—specialized airports designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.
In a push to enhance “advanced air mobility” (AAM) in India, InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, is planning to launch VTOL aircraft in the country around 2026. The initial offering will be the ‘Midnight,’ an electric VTOL air taxi manufactured by California-based Archer Aviation. IndiGo has reportedly secured a deal for 200 Midnight aircraft, involving an investment of USD 1 billion.
The DGCA’s vertiport framework includes detailed guidelines on infrastructure requirements, operational procedures, visual aids for landing, battery charging, and emergency response planning. Site clearance and authorization for vertiports will be granted following construction, as specified in the new circular.
Passengers will benefit from dedicated vertiports for boarding and alighting air taxis, which will also feature charging and parking facilities for the electric VTOLs.
According to a Times of India report, Delhi is expected to be the first city to introduce VTOL air taxi services, with Mumbai and Bengaluru potentially following in the same year. Hyderabad and Chennai may also see the launch of air taxi services in subsequent phases.