New Delhi: The air taxi market is expected to grow at a rapid pace registering an annual growth of 45.9 percent between 2022 and 2040. The market is expected to be dominated by hybrid, piloted vehicles. The electric air taxis will be introduced after 2025. The autonomous aerial vehicles will be introduced after 2030, according to a study by Frost & Sullivan.
The global urban air mobility (UAM) market is warming up and is set for a major takeoff. There are a various technological advances and also regulatory initiatives that are driving the market development. There are a now many established aerospace, automotive and technology firms that are entering the market.
The UAM vehicles are likely to be used in a wide range of applications. But air taxis will be the focus of mass commercialization drives. Dubai is expected to be the first destination where commercial air taxis will start and the services are likely to be started as soon as 2022. Other early adopters of the air taxis for commercialization purpose are Singapore and New Zealand.
Firms like Ehang and Volocopter have collaborated with UAE’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to carry out advanced tests.
New Zealand is also in advanced stages of launching commercial air taxis. Kitty hawk Cora has carried out more than 1,000 test flights in Canterbury region of New Zealand since 2017.