The future has arrived! In the next three years, Dubai plans to begin flying taxi services. That’s accurate, people may easily avoid city traffic. Eve Holding, an electric aircraft firm owned by Embraer, a Brazilian plane manufacturer, and Falcon Aviation Services, a charter flight operator based in the UAE, have teamed to develop 35 flying taxis and urban air mobility plans for Dubai.
Many companies and government agencies in Dubai have made plans and statements about the usage of flying taxis in the city. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has collaborated with the German aviation business Volocopter to test and trial their flying taxi prototype. They have also stated that they intend to operate a commercial service utilizing these cars by 2026.
The launch of flying taxis is considered as a step forward in this respect by Dubai, which has been at the forefront of embracing novel transportation options. The flying taxi service is expected to give residents and visitors with faster and more effective transportation options, cutting road congestion and trip times.
What exactly is a flying taxi?
A flying taxi, sometimes known as an air taxi, is literally a flying automobile – a small commercial aircraft or a helicopter for on-demand short flights. The delivery is scheduled to commence in 2026. According to Ramandeep Oberoi, Falcon’s chief operating officer, “the debut of this idea fully matches with the Smart Dubai goal and will contribute to placing Dubai as a global leader in sustainable urban air mobility transit.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, announced the approval of the design and placement of air taxi vertiports in Dubai. “We approved the designs of flying taxi vertiports in Dubai today, which will function within three years,” he tweeted.
According to sources, these flying taxis will be priced similarly to an Uber service in the city. According to Wion News, Ahmed Bahrozyan, an official with the Emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority, the pricing “will be in the range of a limousine service in Dubai, maybe somewhat higher.
Dubai will have four vertiports, places from where people can board these taxis. The locations are:
- DXB airport
- Downtown
- Palm Jumeirah
- Marina
An air taxi may carry one pilot and four passengers at the same time. Charging stations and other vehicle amenities will be available at the four vertiports. According to rumors, the cabs would have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour and a range of 241 kilometers. Not only that, but the cab is projected to emit zero emissions. These air taxis will soon be as cheap as an Uber fare. The cabs have a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour and a range of 241 kilometers. Not only that, but the cab is projected to emit zero emissions.
It is crucial to emphasise, however, that the development and deployment of flying taxis is a difficult and multi-faceted process that entails addressing a variety of technical, regulatory, and safety challenges. While the prospect of flying taxis in Dubai is appealing, it remains to be seen how fast and successfully these issues can be addressed and overcome before the service becomes a reality.
