Mumbai to Pune in 30 minutes? Check out the ticket price, time saved and who it’s for
A new helicopter shuttle is offering a 30-minute Mumbai–Pune commute, ditching expressway traffic entirely. Here’s how it works, how much it costs and who it’s meant for.
If you’ve ever taken the Mumbai–Pune Expressway on a Friday evening, you know the drill: Inching traffic, unexpected jams, and a journey that should take three hours suddenly turning into five. Now imagine covering that same distance in just 30 minutes, without the chaos, without the honking, without even touching a highway. It might sound impossible, but it is indeed happening.
That’s exactly what FlyBlade-style helicopter shuttle services and now Flyyo India’s new offering are promising: a faster, sleeker, more convenient way to hop between two of Maharashtra’s busiest cities. It sounds futuristic, but it’s already here, and travellers are understandably curious.
How the 30-minute Mumbai to Pune helicopter ride works
The concept is simple: instead of travelling 150+ kilometres by road or dealing with airport procedures, passengers board a helicopter from a designated helipad in Mumbai and land in Pune roughly half an hour later.
Mumbai–Pune helicopter ticket price and aircraft details
Current media reports place the ticket price at around Rs 15,000 per seat, with some private charter operators offering earlier versions of this route at Rs 19,900 + taxes. It’s undeniably a premium product, but it’s also one of the fastest ways to move between the two cities.
The aircraft being used to offer this service is the Airbus H125, a lightweight, single-engine helicopter that seats one pilot with a maximum of six passengers. The comfort and dependability it offers during difficult times make the H125 ideal for this route.
Who the helicopter shuttle service is best suited for
For business travellers, entrepreneurs, and people generally shuttling between meetings, that saved time is suddenly the biggest appeal. A door-to-door commute that usually eats half the day now wraps up before you’ve even finished a podcast episode.
This isn’t meant to replace road or rail travel for the average commuter. But it does create a new category of convenience for:
- Professionals who often travel for work
- People with same-day meetings in both cities
- Weekend travellers keen to skip the traffic
- Anyone who prioritises time over cost
For many, the helicopter option sits somewhere between air travel luxury and practical necessity. If saving 3–4 hours means closing a deal, attending a family event on time, or simply avoiding the exhaustion of long drives, the price begins to feel justifiable.
Booking process and what the travel experience is like
Users can book Helicopter seats via the operator’s website or app, similar to booking a flight. Helipads are usually positioned on the outskirts of the city, which means travellers spend less time in pre-boarding queues and hardly any time clearing security.
Limitations of the Mumbai–Pune helicopter service
There are limitations, of course:
- Baggage allowance is much smaller
- The weather can affect timings
- Seats are limited
- Services run only during daylight hours
But for travellers used to navigating long airport lines or expressway fatigue, the trade-off often feels worth it.
What this means for the future of regional travel in India
The Mumbai–Pune route is only the beginning. If the model proves successful, similar short-haul helicopter connections could emerge between Bengaluru–Mysuru, Delhi–Jaipur, Hyderabad–Vijayawada, and other corridor cities. India’s travel culture is changing quickly, and this service is a clear sign that commuters are ready for faster, smarter, and even airborne alternatives.
For now, the idea of a quick 30-minute hop between two of the busiest cities in the country feels both wildly new and surprisingly sensible. As more people test it out, we’ll know whether helicopter commuting becomes a niche luxury… or the new normal.
Also read: Bored with malls? Try these 7 fun and budget-friendly Sunday evening plans in Mumbai