Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal Bets on Aviation with LAT Aerospace to Unlock India’s Idle Airstrips

In a bold step beyond food delivery, Deepinder Goyal’s LAT Aerospace venture is making headlines as the Zomato founder looks to explore opportunities in the Indian aviation sector. According to Business Standard, in a LinkedIn post by the aerospace startup co-founder Surobhi Das, Deepinder Goyal is now eyeing on regional air travel segment with LAT Aerospace.

Das said in the post, “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 – traveling by road or rail.”

A New Chapter Beyond Zomato

The latest move by Zomato founder signals his growing interest in industries beyond food and tech. While Zomato has become a household name across India, LAT Aerospace signals a shift into an entirely new vertical. Reports suggest that Goyal is backing the aerospace startup personally, with a strong focus on innovation and indigenous technology development.

In the post, Surabhi added, “Think buses in the sky — affordable, high-frequency, and designed to connect the places the airline industry overlooked.”

Deepinder Goyal’s aerospace company has already started gaining traction in the startup ecosystem. In March, Goyal invested INR 174 crore into the startup, which was still in stealth mode at the time. Although LAT Aerospace was founded by Das, Goyal holds the role of non-executive cofounder and investor in the company.

LAT Aerospace: What We Know So Far

While LAT Aerospace is in stealth mode, sources familiar with the project say it aims to be part of the next wave of aerospace investments India is witnessing. The company has started hiring engineers and aerospace experts, building a team that will drive innovation in aviation and defense-related technologies.

According to a LinkedIn post by Das, India has over 450 airstrips. Out of which, only about 150 are currently used for commercial operations by airlines, mostly at major and regional airports. The rest of this infrastructure remains underutilized, with little or no flight activity.

An airstrip refers to a clear, narrow stretch of land where aircraft can take off or land, often with minimal or no airport infrastructure. With LAT Aerospace, Das and Deepinder Goyal aim to change this. They are working to develop “a network of high-frequency, low-cost, 24 seater, STOL (short take-off and landing), medium-haul aircraft.”

Industry Experts React

Experts believe that Goyal’s background in scaling Zomato will help him navigate the challenges of building in the aerospace sector. Although the industries are vastly different, Goyal’s track record in creating systems, hiring top talent, and raising funds will likely give Deepinder Goyal’s LAT Aerospace a solid foundation.

With aerospace investment in India gaining pace and government policies supporting local innovation, LAT Aerospace could become a key player in shaping the future of Indian aviation.