Heliport, Vertiport Planned Near Navi Mumbai Airport

The Mumbai–Pune sector is among the busiest helicopter corridors in the country, with around 20 to 30 helicopter movements daily to helipads at Juhu or Mahalaxmi racecourse. At present, these routes pass over the Navi Mumbai airport. The Airports Authority of India has now developed alternate routes bypassing the airport, which will come into effect from Wednesday, along with a standard operating procedure for helicopter operations between Mumbai and Pune. Industry executives said a heliport near Navi Mumbai airport would significantly benefit corporates and business travellers from Pune.

Captain Nitin Welde, a helicopter pilot, said passengers arriving at or departing from Navi Mumbai airport could use helicopter services to various destinations across Maharashtra. He added that earmarking a dedicated road for exclusive access between the airport and the heliport could reduce road travel time, ease commutes, and encourage greater use of helicopter charter services for both business and tourism.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is working on a regulatory framework for integrating eVTOLs, or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, commonly referred to as air taxis, into India’s civilian airspace. In 2023, InterGlobe Enterprises partnered with Archer Enterprises to explore electric air taxi operations in India, while companies such as ePlane Company and Sarla Aviation have proposed manufacturing eVTOLs domestically.

Globally, eVTOLs are still in the demonstration and testing phase and are yet to enter commercial service. Recently, Joby Aviation and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority conducted a crewed air taxi flight, while organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics plan to deploy air taxis for spectator transport.