Sarla Aviation

Sarla Aviation is a aerospace startup pioneering the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban air mobility in India. Sarla Aviation is named in honor of India’s first female pilot, Sarla Thukral. The company’s mission is to revolutionize mass transportation by providing affordable, safe and efficient flying taxi solutions that address India’s urban congestion and pollution challenges.

Products & Services 

• Electric Air Taxi Services: Operates “Shunya,” a seven-seater eVTOL air taxi for fast, affordable urban commutes—optimized for 20–30 km city trips, with a range up to 160 km and speeds up to 250 km/h.

• Airport Transfers: Rapid connections between city centers and airports, reducing travel times from hours to minutes at fares competitive with premium ground taxis.

• Urban Mobility Solutions: Scheduled and on-demand flying taxi rides designed to alleviate traffic congestion and pollution in major Indian cities.

• Free Air Ambulance Service: Plans to launch complimentary air ambulance services in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune to support urgent medical needs.

• eVTOL Manufacturing: Designs and manufactures electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with the goal of supplying these to other operators in the future.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborates with airports and technology partners for infrastructure, manufacturing and deployment of advanced air mobility solutions.

• Sustainable Transportation: Provides clean, electric-powered urban air travel to promote sustainable, smart city living.

Business Model & Revenue Streams

• Flying Taxi Services: Core revenue from passenger fares for urban air taxi rides, priced competitively with premium ground taxis and designed to become as affordable as auto-rickshaw rides over time.

• Airport Transfers & Urban Commutes: Focuses on high-demand, time-sensitive routes such as airport-to-city transfers, reducing travel time from hours to minutes.

• B2B & Institutional Partnerships: Collaborates with airports, real estate developers, hospitals and city planners to integrate eVTOL landing pads and expand service networks.

• Free Air Ambulance Services: Offers rapid-response medical transport as a public service, enhancing brand reputation and supporting regulatory goodwill.

• Future Mass Transit Solutions: Long-term vision includes mass-market air mobility, connecting thousands of urban and suburban locations for daily commutes and citywide logistics.

• R&D and Localization: Investment in local manufacturing and supply chain (targeting 80% localization) to reduce costs and improve scalability.

Customer Segmentation

• B2C: Urban commuters, business travelers and families seeking fast, reliable transportation.

• B2B: Airports, hospitals, real estate developers and government agencies integrating air mobility into their services.

• Public Sector: Municipalities and emergency services utilizing air ambulances and rapid-response solutions.

Growth Strategy

• Phased City Rollout: Launching in Bengaluru with airport and high-traffic routes, followed by expansion to Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and other metros.

• Pilot Testing & Regulatory Alignment: Collaborating with aviation authorities to ensure safety, certification and scalable infrastructure.

• R&D and Team Expansion: Establishing a state-of-the-art R&D center in Bengaluru and growing the team from 30 to over 100 professionals.

• Mass Market Vision: By 2035, aims to connect thousands of points of interest, enabling “teleportation-like” citywide mobility.

• International Blueprint: Sarla’s cost-effective, high-capacity model could serve as a blueprint for urban air mobility in other rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide.