Bangaloreans can now look to beat traffic with a 12-minute helicopter ride

• BLADE India has launched two helicopter flights between BIAL and HAL in Bangalore to beat traffic. 
• A journey between BIAL and HAL by cab takes around 2 hours and costs ₹1,300/- 
• The helicopter flight will cover the journey in 12 minutes and cost around ₹3,250/- exclusive of taxes. 

India’s IT hotspot city Bangalore has its perks. The city which boasts of being India’s silicon valley, employing engineers from all over the country does have a few downsides too.

Amidst being a melting pot of culture and new traditions, the city is already one of the most traffic-congested cities in the world.

Twitter is often choked with complaints of citizens being stuck in traffic jams for hours on end and while it has sparked creativity while serving as meme fodder for years, with Twitterati claiming that drivers of this city have sold the third and fourth gears of their cars, there has been no significant relief.

One of the solutions that citizens use to beat this traffic was the rise of bikes on hire. Companies such as Rapido and other options like Ola bikes helped this cause.

And although the Government has over time introduced stricter traffic rules and restrictions along with competent vigilance by the state police, only little has improved. But times are changing now.

Helicopter rides in Bangalore

One of the major hurdles concerning traffic in Bangalore is being faced by air travelers during their journey to and fro from the state’s Kempegowda International Airport also known as Bangalore International Airport(BIAL).

Citizens claim that traveling between BIAL and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) takes around ₹1,300 and over two hours. The HAL Airport is a popular location due to its proximity to locations in the city such as Indiranagar and Koramangala, as well as some major IT parks thus the traffic here is incorrigible.

Now a company named BLADE India has come up with a solution. It is an urban air mobility company that has launched two helicopter flights between Bangalore International Airport and HAL airport.

One can understand how dire a state’s traffic problem is when such steps are taken to overcome it. BLADE India’s managing director Amit Dutta says that he wishes to democratize urban air mobility. While helicopter services are considered a premium product, the company looks to offer an accessible entry point to the common man.

Flight timings and the pocket pinch 

BLADE launched two helicopter flights between Bangalore International Airport and HAL airport, every weekday at 9 am and returning at 4:15 pm. Flights can be booked like any other air ticket at an initial cost of ₹3,250, excluding taxes.

Furthermore, the launch of this intra-city service will allow fliers to skip the painful road commute taking more than 2 hours and opt for a quick 12-minute flight instead.

The route between Bengaluru airport and HAL will be operational from October 10 and is now open for bookings on the BLADE India website or through the Flier Relations team.

Future goals for BLADE

BLADE plans to introduce more routes to Whitefield and Electronic City to allow a boost in the air taxi service sector. BLADE works with partners like AIRBUS and Eve Air Mobility to deliver affordable air transportation.

BLADE wishes to promote the advent of eVTOL(Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing) aircraft that use electric power. These taxis will promote air travel for commuting and will soon replace helicopters.

The company launched its maiden flights in Maharashtra between Mumbai, Pune and Shirdi in November 2019. It expanded its scheduled by-the-seat helicopter flights to Coorg, Hampi, and Kabini in Karnataka and Goa.