LAT Aerospace: How Deepinder Goyal and Surobhi Das Are Reimagining Regional Aviation in India

India has become one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, yet millions of people living in Tier-II and Tier-III cities still struggle with limited air connectivity. While metro airports continue to expand, hundreds of smaller airstrips remain underutilized, leaving regional travelers dependent on long road and rail journeys.

LAT Aerospace aims to solve this problem.

Founded in 2025 by Surobhi Das, former Chief Operating Officer of Zomato, and Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Zomato, LAT Aerospace is developing hybrid-electric Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft specifically designed for regional connectivity rather than urban air taxis or conventional commercial aviation. The company’s vision is simple but ambitious: make flying between smaller cities as convenient as taking a bus.

What is LAT Aerospace?

LAT Aerospace is an Indian aerospace startup focused on designing hybrid-electric STOL aircraft capable of operating from extremely short runways or compact “air-stops.”

Instead of relying on expensive airport infrastructure, LAT proposes aircraft that can:

• Operate from very short landing strips
• Serve underserved towns and regional cities
• Reduce infrastructure costs
• Enable high-frequency regional flights
• Lower operating costs through hybrid-electric propulsion

The startup’s long-term mission extends beyond building aircraft. According to the company, it is also investing in indigenous gas turbine engines and aerospace technologies to strengthen India’s domestic aviation ecosystem.

The Founders Behind LAT Aerospace

Surobhi Das

Surobhi Das previously served as the COO of Zomato, where she helped scale one of India’s largest technology companies. At LAT Aerospace, she leads operations and product development while assembling an engineering team specializing in aerodynamics, propulsion systems, aircraft structures, and flight controls.

Deepinder Goyal

Deepinder Goyal is widely recognized as the founder and CEO of Zomato. At LAT Aerospace, he serves as a co-founder and strategic investor. Early reports indicated that he invested approximately $20 million into the venture while taking a non-executive leadership role focused on long-term strategy and innovation.

Why India Needs Regional Aviation Innovation

Although India has more than 450 airstrips, only around 150 currently support scheduled commercial operations. This leaves a significant amount of aviation infrastructure unused while millions of travelers spend several hours—or even days—traveling between regional destinations by road or rail.

Regional connectivity continues to face several challenges:

• Low passenger volumes on many routes
• High airport operating costs
• Limited airline interest in smaller cities
• Long travel times between neighboring states
• Expensive airport infrastructure

LAT Aerospace believes smaller aircraft operating from compact facilities could make many of these routes economically viable.

Understanding Hybrid-Electric STOL Aircraft

STOL stands for Short Take-Off and Landing.

Unlike traditional regional aircraft that require long runways, STOL aircraft are engineered to safely operate from much shorter landing areas.

LAT Aerospace combines this capability with hybrid-electric propulsion.

Potential advantages include:

• Lower fuel consumption compared to conventional aircraft
• Reduced emissions
• Lower operating costs
• Quieter operations
• Access to locations unsuitable for large commercial aircraft

Hybrid-electric propulsion combines electric motors with conventional turbine technology, allowing improved efficiency while overcoming many of today’s battery limitations for regional aviation. Research suggests hybrid-electric systems can reduce operating costs and improve energy efficiency compared with traditional propulsion, although commercial deployment remains technically challenging.

The “Bus in the Sky” Vision

LAT Aerospace frequently describes its concept as a “bus network in the sky.”

Rather than replacing airlines, the company wants to create an entirely new transportation layer.

Its proposed operating model includes:

• Frequent short-distance flights
• Small passenger aircraft
• Minimal airport infrastructure
• Faster boarding
• Regional routes overlooked by commercial airlines

Instead of requiring large airport terminals, security complexes, and extensive ground infrastructure, aircraft would operate from compact “air-stops” located closer to where people actually live.

How LAT Aerospace Differs from Air Taxi Companies

LAT Aerospace is often compared with electric air taxi startups, but the business models differ significantly.

According to early reports, LAT initially explored aircraft accommodating between 12 and 24 passengers, while the company’s current public materials highlight development of an 8-seat hybrid-electric aircraft, indicating the design is evolving as engineering progresses.

Technology Challenges Ahead

Developing a new aircraft platform is among the most technically demanding engineering projects in the world.

LAT Aerospace must successfully address:

Hybrid propulsion integration

Combining electric propulsion with turbine systems requires advanced energy management, lightweight components, and rigorous safety validation.

Aircraft certification

Every commercial aircraft must undergo extensive testing and certification before passenger operations.

Infrastructure development

Although compact air-stops require less infrastructure than airports, they still need regulatory approval, operational procedures, and support systems.

Manufacturing capability

India is still developing its indigenous aerospace manufacturing ecosystem, making domestic production of aircraft components and engines a significant challenge.

Funding and Growth

Reports indicate LAT Aerospace has attracted significant early investor interest.

Initial reports stated that:

• Deepinder Goyal invested around $20 million
• The company explored raising approximately $50 million in seed funding
• Hiring focused on aerospace engineers, propulsion specialists, material scientists, and systems engineers

The company has also publicly stated that it is building capabilities across aircraft, propulsion, defense technologies, and gas turbine engines as part of its long-term vision.

Potential Impact on Tier-II and Tier-III Cities

If successful, LAT Aerospace could reshape regional mobility by enabling:

• Faster business travel
• Improved medical transport
• Better tourism connectivity
• Increased investment in smaller cities
• Greater economic integration across regions

Shorter travel times between underserved locations could also support government initiatives aimed at expanding regional air connectivity.

Industry Outlook

Regional aviation is attracting increasing global attention as advances in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion improve the feasibility of smaller, more efficient aircraft. While battery technology, certification requirements, and manufacturing remain major hurdles, many aerospace companies are exploring hybrid-electric concepts for regional transport.

LAT Aerospace enters this market with a distinctly India-focused strategy: leveraging underused airstrips and compact infrastructure to expand connectivity beyond major metropolitan areas.

Conclusion

LAT Aerospace represents one of India’s most ambitious aerospace startups in recent years. By focusing on hybrid-electric STOL aircraft, indigenous engineering, and underserved regional markets, the company is attempting to address a longstanding transportation gap rather than compete directly with traditional airlines.

The path ahead remains complex. Aircraft development, certification, and commercialization typically require years of engineering, testing, and regulatory approval. However, if LAT Aerospace can execute its vision, it could contribute to a new model of regional aviation—one that makes air travel more accessible for millions living outside India’s largest cities.