Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Ventures into Aviation with LAT Aerospace

After revolutionising the food delivery industry with Zomato, Deepinder Goyal is now setting his sights on the regional aviation sector. Partnering with former Zomato executive Surobhi Das, Goyal has launched LAT Aerospace: a startup aimed at transforming how Indians travel short distances by air. The venture focuses on addressing long-standing gaps in affordability, accessibility, and connectivity across India’s smaller cities and towns.

A Response to India's Broken Regional Air Travel

In a LinkedIn post, LAT Aerospace co-founder Surobhi Das explained the motivation behind the venture: “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?”

The startup has already raised $50 million in funding, with $20 million invested by Goyal himself, according to news reports. While Goyal has a proven record of building new market segments, the aviation space presents an entirely different challenge.

Bringing “Buses in the Sky” to Smaller Cities

Das pointed out that only about 150 of India's 450+ airstrips are in commercial use, meaning nearly two-thirds of the country’s aviation infrastructure is being wasted. “Meanwhile, millions in Tier-II and Tier-III cities spend hours, sometimes days, travelling by road or rail,” she added.

LAT Aerospace plans to deploy 12–24 seater STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft that will operate from ultra-compact “air-stops” spaces as small as a parking lot situated closer to where people actually live. Das called this concept “buses in the sky,” aimed at providing fast, affordable air travel to overlooked regions. 

The company is now hiring aerospace engineers, systems designers, and aviation enthusiasts to build its core team. As per Tracxn data, Richard Mahn serves as the CEO of LAT Aerospace, while Das remains a co-founder.

Read More: Asian Paints Acquires Full Ownership of White Teak for ₹188 Crore! 

Eternal Share Price Performance

As of 30 June 2025, 11:05 AM, Eternal (Zomato) share price was trading at ₹263.25 per share, a surge of 0.53%. Over the past month, the stock has surged by 8.74%. 

Conclusion

LAT Aerospace represents Deepinder Goyal’s bold attempt to reimagine regional mobility in India. By tapping into unused airstrips and designing small aircraft for short-distance routes, the startup hopes to offer a viable alternative to long road or rail journeys in underserved regions. As the project takes off, its success could redefine how India connects internally.

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