IndiGo have invested in Sarla Aviation, a startup based in Bengaluru developing eVTOL air taxis. New data from India’s Registrar of Companies shows the airline made the investment through IndiGo Ventures, their US$52 million innovation funding arm established in June 2025.

InterGlobe enterprises, IndiGo’s parent company, had previously made an agreement with rival American eVTOL developers Archer. The deal, signed in November 2023, would have launched air taxis in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai as early as 2026. However, the partnership was non-binding and fell through when Archer could not deliver on the promised timelines.

Nevertheless, it appears IndiGo’s appetite to stake a claim in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector is undiminished. In January 2026, the carrier contributed to a US$10 million funding round led by Accer on behalf of Sarla Aviation. Founded in 2023, the company claims to be developing ‘India’s most sophisticated eVTOL’. The aircraft is called Shunya, and can fly up to 800km at speeds as great as 250km/h.

Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, writes on Sarla’s website:

We are building a mobility system that empowers everyone – that empowers you. In our relentless pursuit of this goal, we have a clear strategy to transition from today to a future of ultimate inclusion, breaking the boundaries of time and space.

Air taxis could have a significant impact on alleviating traffic in India’s notoriously crowded roads. While the market on the subcontinent could be significant, eVTOLs are currently closest to taking off in the US and the Gulf, with firms including Archer and Joby Aviation nearing regulatory approval for commercial operations.

IndiGo have become India’s largest airline. The carrier joins peers including All Nippon Airways (ANA), IAG, and United Airlines in establishing a venture capital arm. Recent research from Lufthansa Innovation Hub found that airline investment in startups hit a five-year low in 2025, warning that the industry needs to get closer to disruptors or risk losing out.

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