Five years ago, when the city’s first heli-taxi service lifted off from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), it was billed as Bengaluru’s ultimate congestion-killer. Bypassing the gruelling traffic-jammed roads down below, it could reach far-off Electronic City in 15 minutes flat for a fare that was less than ₹5,000. Yet, after 1,100 trips since launch, the service was suspended and remains grounded for over two years. Can it fly again?
Heli-taxi rides to and from the city’s main airport by operator Thumby aviation were suspended for a reason in May 2019: The helipad used for the service had to make way for the airport’s massive expansion drive and a new 10-land access road. Building a new helipad far beyond the airport terminal would mean travelling more than 15 minutes by road, not a very attractive prospect for potential passengers.
A new helipad is yet to take shape. Thumby Aviation, as its Chief Executive Officer Govind Nair informs, is looking at restarting the service sometime in February 2024. “The helipad is still not operational. Besides, winter is not the right time to start as we definitely have visibility issues in the morning. There are Air Traffic Control (ATC) restrictions,” he explains.
