LAT Aerospace is an Indian aerospace startup co-founded by Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal and former CEO Surobhi Das. This startup is aiming to revolutionize regional air travel. It is considered to be a significant development for India’s aviation industry. It focuses on developing hybrid-electric aircraft designed to operate from compact “air-stops”, potentially transforming how millions of Indians travel between Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
“While building Zomato and flying across India, Deepinder and I kept circling back to the same question: Why is regional air travel still so broken – expensive, infrequent, and mostly out of reach unless you live in a metro India has 450+ airstrips — but only ~150 see commercial flights. That means nearly two-thirds of our aviation potential is being wasted. Meanwhile, millions in Tier 2 and 3 cities spend hours — sometimes days — travelling by road or rail,” Surobhi mentioned in her LinkedIn post.
Innovative Aircraft Design for Efficient Operations
LAT Aerospace’s core innovation is rooted in its development of 12- to 24-seater hybrid-electric STOL aircraft. These aircraft can operate from air-stops no bigger than a parking lot and are designed for short trips and high frequency. This concept provides a more efficient travel experience by eliminating the need for extensive airport infrastructure.
Strategic Leadership and Vision
Deepinder Goyal, who is well known for his leadership at Zomato, and Surobhi Das, a former CEO at Zomato, have teamed up to build LAT Aerospace. Deepinder provides his strategic guidance while Surobhi, with her extensive operational experience, oversees daily operations. Together, they intend to fill gaps in terms of cost, frequency, and accessibility in regional air connectivity in India.
“We believe access shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be an entitlement — solved by intentional design. We asked ourselves: What if we could connect India by air — as seamlessly as the railways? What if air travel worked like a bus network in the sky — high-frequency, low-cost, demand-based? That’s the world we’re building at LAT Aerospace — not just an aircraft, but a new way to fly. A system designed from scratch for India,” says Surobhi Das, the co-founder.
Recruitment Drive to Build Indigenous Capabilities
LAT Aerospace is actively hiring engineers specializing in aerodynamics, materials science, and hybrid propulsion systems. Deepinder emphasizes a culture of freedom and innovation for their engineers. Their research center, packed with labs for combustion, turbo-machinery, thermal systems, and materials, is designed to let engineers move quickly — testing, building, and refining without the usual slowdowns.
“We’re giving engineers the freedom to think, build, break, and repeat. Our dedicated research centre — with labs for combustion, turbo-machinery, thermal systems, and materials, will give engineers the space and freedom to iterate fast, and get to real outcomes at a speed which is unprecedented in the industry,”, says Deepinder.
“Also, this team will be led by engineers. No waiting around for approvals from “business” people. No chasing slides or meetings. Just hands-on problem solving, running bench tests, working with suppliers, building hardware from scratch — and pushing the limits of design and physics every day,” he adds.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Although the goal is inspiring, LAT Aerospace is facing challenges, including regulatory approvals, technological advancement, and market acceptance. But with a scalable strategy and a strong emphasis on innovation, the business is well-positioned to significantly change the regional air travel scene in India.
LAT Aerospace represents a bold step towards modernizing India’s regional air travel. As it progresses, LAT Aerospace could become a key player in India’s aviation sector, making air travel more accessible and efficient for millions.
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