Ride-hailing service provider Uber Technologies has considered India as one of the five countries where it plans to start aerial taxi service, The Times of India reported.

Uber Elevate, the company’s aerial taxi arm plans to start commercial operations of “on-demand aviation” aerial taxis by 2023 in Dallas, Los Angeles as well as an international city, the report said, adding that a team headed by Madhu Kannan, chief business officer, India and emerging markets, Uber, met with Jayant Sinha, Union minister of state for aviation on Tuesday.

“They are considering five countries for launch of air taxis. When I had met Uber chief executive officer Dara Khosrowshahi, I had stressed on him the need to do so, given our country’s consumer base. Now, Uber has informed me that India is one of the five countries they are evaluating for launching air taxis. They are very close to selecting India,” Jayant Sinha told TOI.

Small vertical take-off and landing aircrafts or passenger drones which use electric propulsion will be essentially used for such short distance travel, the report said.

First Published:Aug 29, 2018 9:59 AM IST