Want to escape Sao Paulo's traffic? Take a 30 km flying taxi trip for US$150

Sao Paulo

WHILE 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 and the passenger's weight.

It's a godsend for those in a rush - but only if the weather permits.

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 - South America's biggest city, home to 12 million residents within its municipal limits and millions more in satellite…