BENGALURU: The company that launched the first heli-taxi in the city from Electronics City to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is busy working out modalities involved to launch its second heli-taxi route in the city in a fortnight, this time from the HAL airport.
However, since it does not have a heliport of its own similar to that at the Electronics City area as well as at KIA, Thumby Aviation Pvt Ltd needs to pay ground handling charges, landing charges and parking charges to HAL authorities for the operations.
Chairman and Managing Director Capt K N G Nair, who was in the city recently in connection with running helipad taxi services from star hotels, told The New Indian Express, “Our total operating cost will work out to be much higher when we run from HAL as we have to pay various charges. Hence, we will be forced to charge passengers more than what we charge presently for transportation from Electronics City.”
The cost per ticket for its present trip is Rs 4,160 (Rs 3,500 plus GST). When the route from HAL was initially planned, Thumby Aviation had intended to charge the same price at that time too.
The concern was working on all the modalities, particularly the financial part, Nair said. “We are doing our best to reduce the cost per ticket so that the passengers do not bear a big burden. Within two weeks, we will definitely be ready to commence our services between the two airports,” he added.The firm presently has two Bell 407 six-seater helicopters ferrying passengers to KIA within 12 minutes and this same fleet would be put into operations. “The heli-taxis used presently, cross HAL area when heading to the airport and in the future, passengers can be picked enroute,” the Chairman said.
Special copters for star hotels
Out of the 93 helipads available inside the city, four hotels are keen to ensure their customers have the service from their buildings, he added.The operations from rooftops could take a few more months for the proposed launch, Nair added. “It will be done before six months. We will have to purchase special Performance Class-I helicopters that are mandatory for such rooftop services. The permission from the Director General of Civil Aviation to run them, has to come through.”