From food to flight: Ex-Zomato COO partners with Deepinder Goyal to launch LAT Aerospace

LAT Aerospace, in stealth mode, is creating short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft designed to carry 24 passengers and travel up to 1,500 kilometers, aiming to transform regional air travel

In a bold career move, ex-Zomato COO Surobhi Das has teamed up with Deepinder Goyal, the CEO of Zomato, to launch LAT Aerospace, a new aerospace startup focused on transforming regional air travel in India. Goyal has joined as a non-executive co-founder and investor, contributing $20 million to the venture.

LAT Aerospace, currently operating in stealth mode, is developing short take-off and landing (STOL) aircraft designed to revolutionize regional air travel. These aircrafts are designed to carry up to 24 passengers and travel distances of up to 1,500 kilometres. The STOL design allows them to operate from smaller “air-stops,” similar to parking lots, removing the need for extensive airport infrastructure and making air travel more accessible and affordable.

The company is seeking $50 million in seed funding to accelerate development and is recruiting engineers with expertise in aerodynamics, materials science, and hybrid propulsion systems. With its unique approach to regional air travel, LAT Aerospace aims to significantly impact India air travel.

LAT Aerospace set to transform regional air travel

Reflecting on the project, Goyal expressed enthusiasm about bringing a decade-old idea to fruition. He sees LAT Aerospace as a game-changer for regional air travel, making it as accessible as bus journeys and connecting cities and towns in India that are underserved by traditional air routes.

Surobhi Das, a Zomato COO to CEO of LAT Aerospace, left Zomato in November 2023 after 12 years. Her experience in scaling operations at Zomato is expected to play a key role in guiding LAT Aerospace toward success in the aerospace industry.

With its vision to provide seamless, affordable air travel, LAT Aerospace is poised to transform India air travel connectivity. By offering on-demand flights to underserved destinations, the company aims to revolutionize how air travel is experienced in India, making it more efficient and accessible to millions of people.