When Uber has changed ground transport in many cities, Sao Paulo’s infernal traffic jams have sparked a new app that opens the sky to commuters: Voom, a helicopter taxi service that charges according to distance plus landing fees.
If the weather permits its a godsend in rush hours
Gustavo Boyde, a Brazilian living in the United States who goes to Sao Paulo for business, is one of those who says the hops above the city are the only way to get around.
“I’ve opted for helicopters,” he said, pointing to the metropolis sprawling beyond the horizon as he choppered from a chic central district to the airport.
Sao Paulo is the South America’s biggest city, home to 12 million residents within its municipal limits and millions more in satellite towns is regularly choked by gargantuan traffic jams.
There are 5.9 million vehicles or one for every two people. At peak hour, traffic can be backed up as much as 576 kilometres (358 miles).
A new venture launched in April by Europe’s Airbus, Voom has taken a page out of Uber’s marketing manual to put clients above it all at the competitive price.
The app asks passengers to enter their weight and that of any baggage, then immediately sends the calculated fare.
Boyde’s run, from the southeastern neighbourhood of Itaim Bibi to the airport some 30 kilometres (20 miles) away, takes nine minutes and costs $150.
Compare that with the market rates before Voom became available. Individual helicopter companies wanted 10 times more — and trips needed to be booked at least two days in advance.
“Our goal is to make helicopter transport accessible to more people so that the helicopter is seen as an alternative,” said Voom’s executive director, Uma Subramanian.
Sao Paulo topped a list of 500 cities Voom considered for its debut, for a variety of reasons.
The city, which sits in a state of the same name whose population exceeds 45 million, has the biggest fleet of helicopters in the world.
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