A new startup backed by Zomato founder Deepinder Goel, LAT Aerospace is planning to operate small planes from small airstrips where planes targeting Tier-2 cities.
LAT Aerospace news: In a significant update for the Indian aviation sector, a new startup is aiming to revolutionize regional air travel at a massive scale. In the recent development, LAT Aerospace, a new Indian aviation startup co-founded by Surobhi Das (former Zomato COO) and backed by Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal (who invested $20 million out of its $50 million funding), is planning to build 12-24 seater STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft that can operate from small airstrips. Here are all the details you need to know about what LAT Aerospace is planning.
As per media reports, LAT Aerospace, under the leadership of Surobhi Das is planning to operate small planes from small airstrips where at affordable prices. Their plan includes to deploy planes with a range of up to 1500 km targeting tier 2 and tier 3 cities of India, providing easy and affordable air travel.
What is LAT Aerospace planning?
Readers should note that India has over 450 airstrips, but only 150 are in use, highlighting major untapped potential and LAT Aerospace wants to make air travel as easy and accessible using this available space.
“When we were flying all over India for Zomato, we were repeatedly stuck on the same question – why is regional air travel so difficult, expensive and low in India?”, Surobhi said on LAT’s journey.
However, the company must overcome regulatory, technical, and safety challenges to win public trust. It is currently hiring aerospace engineers and aviation experts as it scales up operations to meet its ambitious goals.
Why is Zomato’s Deepinder Goel facing new competition?
In a significant development and a bad news for Zomato’s Deepinder Goel, the entry of ride-sharing companies into the online food delivery market in India pose early challenge to existing players like Zomato and Swiggy as in initial years, such companies can operate on much lower margins or at break-even, a report showed on Wednesday.
Rapido has announced its entry this month. ONDC was a similar risk in 2023 but it was not able to make a major dent in the duopoly structure of the food delivery industry, according to a note by HSBC Global Investment Research.
(With inputs from agencies)
