Zomato CEO's new venture LAT Aerospace aims to revolutionize regional air travel in India

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal is stepping into the aviation space with a bold new venture, LAT Aerospace, which aspires to transform regional air travel in India. The initiative, still awaiting regulatory clearances, is designed to tackle long-standing challenges like limited connectivity, high costs, and low accessibility in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

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Surobhi Das, a key figure in LAT Aerospace, explained the inspiration behind the venture. She pointed out that while India has over 450 airstrips, only about 150 are actively used for commercial flights. This leaves a huge portion of the country's aviation infrastructure underutilized. With millions relying on time-consuming road or rail transport, the need for fast, affordable regional flights has become increasingly urgent.

LAT Aerospace’s vision is to create a “bus-in-the-sky” model, affordable, frequent flights that operate from small, purpose-built "air-stops" located close to residential areas. These mini-terminals would be compact, easy to access, and promise a no-hassle flying experience, eliminating traditional airport inconveniences like long security lines and crowded terminals.