Zomato Founder Backs Bold Aviation Startup Aiming to Revolutionize Regional Travel

Breaking Barriers in Indian Air Mobility

India’s regional travel sector is on the brink of a potential transformation, and at the helm of this movement is Deepinder Goyal — co-founder of food delivery giant Zomato. Goyal has stepped into the aviation space with an ambitious investment in LAT Aerospace, a startup poised to radically reshape how Indians in smaller towns and cities fly.

LAT Aerospace isn’t just another aviation venture — it seeks to democratize air travel, making it more accessible, efficient, and affordable. The initiative is co-founded by Surobhi Das, former COO of Zomato, and aims to introduce short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft seating 12 to 24 passengers. The aircraft will operate from compact, decentralized “air-stops” — a dramatic shift from the busy, bureaucratic airport experience.

The startup’s core mission is to tap into the 450+ underutilized airstrips across India, only about 150 of which currently host commercial flights. The remaining majority, as the founders emphasize, represent a missed opportunity to improve connectivity in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where road and rail journeys often consume significant time.

Das articulated the startup’s ethos on LinkedIn, likening LAT’s model to “buses in the sky.” The goal is to run frequent, low-cost flights between underserved regions, operating from hubs that resemble parking lots rather than traditional airports. With these new nodes of aerial mobility located much closer to residential areas, LAT promises a “walk-in and fly” experience—no queues, no chaos, no delays.

Goyal has reportedly invested \$20 million out of a \$50 million seed round, reinforcing his commitment to reshaping consumer access, much like he did with Zomato. The startup is now recruiting a talent pool of aerospace engineers, systems designers, and aviation enthusiasts to make this ambitious dream a reality.

What Undercode Say:

LAT Aerospace is not just another aviation startup—it’s a strategic response to India’s long-standing infrastructural disconnect between metros and smaller towns. What sets this initiative apart is its intentional design philosophy: instead of retrofitting solutions into a broken system, LAT is reimagining what regional air travel could be from the ground up.

The ambition to treat regional air connectivity as a public utility rather than a premium offering is a critical mindset shift. In a country where infrastructure bottlenecks routinely stifle mobility, LAT could serve as a vital bridge for India’s rising middle class and underserved rural population.

From an economic standpoint, Goyal’s investment shows confidence in a vertically integrated logistics future. With Zomato already dabbling in drone deliveries and supply-chain optimizations, LAT could eventually form a part of a larger logistics ecosystem—especially if lightweight cargo becomes part of the payload.

Operationally, the biggest challenge will lie in regulatory clearance, safety compliance, and localized infrastructure development. The idea of air-stops is enticing, but they still need to meet stringent aviation norms. Moreover, the success of LAT will depend on how well it can optimize routes, maintain affordability, and achieve high frequency without compromising safety.

Technologically, it’s a strong case for STOL aircraft in India—a concept that has seen success in places like Alaska and parts of Southeast Asia. But India’s terrain, weather variability, and population density make this a uniquely complex challenge.

Goyal’s involvement brings credibility, but also expectations. The startup must show quick proof-of-concept routes that offer both ROI and social impact. A solid public-private partnership model could help with land access, local incentives, and speed up development timelines.

If executed properly, LAT Aerospace could not only become a template for other countries with underutilized airstrips but could also disrupt how we think of rural-to-urban mobility. The key metric won’t just be profitability—it will be lives connected, time saved, and regions unlocked.

🔍 Fact Checker Results:

✅ India has over 450 airstrips, of which only around 150 are active for commercial use — confirmed by DGCA data.
✅ Short take-off and landing aircraft are being explored globally for regional travel, including by startups in the US and Australia.
✅ Deepinder Goyal’s \$20 million investment is accurately reported by several reputable sources including TechCrunch and YourStory.

📊 Prediction:

If LAT Aerospace successfully clears regulatory hurdles and demonstrates reliability within two years, it could become India’s leading regional air shuttle service by 2028. Expect government collaboration via UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) schemes and potential interest from logistics firms and tourism boards. If integrated with major mobility apps, LAT could redefine tiered transit in India — making short-haul air travel as routine as taking a bus or train.