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The dream of travelling in an air taxi is expected to come true soon. According to recent reports, India is moving closer to introducing electric air taxis, with Bengaluru-based Sarla Aviation targeting 2028 for the launch of its air taxi services. The development could mark a major change in urban transportation and offer an alternative to road travel in congested cities. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has highlighted India's growing focus on advanced air mobility and eVTOL aircraft. He said India is expected to not only operate electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft but also develop and manufacture them domestically.

 

 

Sarla Aviation is developing electric air taxi technology under its urban air mobility programme. The company is working on its Shunya air taxi, which is designed to provide faster transportation across cities while reducing dependence on congested roads. The company has also achieved an important milestone in its eVTOL development programme. Sarla Aviation received Design Organisation Approval (DOA), supporting its efforts to design and develop eVTOL aircraft in India. In July 2026, the company announced the successful completion of the flight-test campaign for its technology demonstrator, Sylla. The aircraft completed more than 500 tests and over 18 hours of flight testing. The 700-kg-class demonstrator is being used to validate technologies required for Sarla Aviation's future aircraft.

 

Electric air taxis use eVTOL technology, allowing them to take off and land vertically without requiring conventional runways. This makes the technology suitable for urban environments where space is limited. Air taxis could help reduce travel times on selected routes by flying above traffic. They may initially be useful for airport transfers, business travel and other time-sensitive journeys. The technology could also eventually support applications such as emergency medical transportation, cargo movement and deliveries. However, commercial air taxi operations will require dedicated vertiports, safety systems, air-traffic management and regulatory approvals.

 

Sarla Aviation is also expanding its manufacturing plans. The company has announced a proposed 500-acre aerospace campus in Andhra Pradesh, with an initial investment of ₹1,300 crore. The facility is expected to support eVTOL manufacturing and future air mobility operations. If testing, certification and regulatory approvals progress as planned, electric air taxis could become a part of India's urban transportation network by 2028. The development could also strengthen India's position in the emerging global advanced air mobility sector.