Taking a cab ride to the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is often a memorable experience for many people, but for the wrong reason: the city's notorious traffic. People consider it to be as unpredictable as the monsoon, with vehicles appearing as if they are planted on the road. Once, during such a bad jam, this reporter had the wild idea of running to the airport from the car, with handbag in one hand and trolley in the other!
However airport travellers, at least some of them, may now have reasons to rejoice.
Thumby Aviation launched its 'Heli-Taxi' service in the city on Monday evening. The helicopters can ferry passengers from Kempegowda International Airport to Electronic City, reducing travel time from three hours to 15 minutes.
“The shuttle service is priced at Rs 4,130 per head including taxes. One can book a ride using our app HeliTaxii,” says Govind Nair, director, business development, at Thumby Aviation.
''Heli-Taxi service is going to be first of its kind in Asia. We selected Bengaluru as our launchpad as the city has an innate issue of traffic, due to the high vehicle density. We are introducing a smarter way of travelling through the sky,'' says Nair.
The shuttle services run from 6.30am to 9.30am and from 3.15pm to 6.15pm. ''You can book a ride during non-peak hours too, but then charter rates will be applicable,” he says.
Thumby Aviation has plans to launch such services in other cities as well. It could also offer its helicopters for organ harvesting and transferring patients who do not require medical assistance on flight to hospitals. ''But right now, we don't have air ambulances,'' says Nair.