It’s no secret that Dubai has been working on bringing taxis to the skies to make travel faster around the city.
And now a whole new fleet of private air taxis is coming to the city in addition to the much talked about plans from the RTA.
Dubai-based private aviation operator Air Chateau has pre-ordered 10 Integrity eVTOL, the official name of an electric flying taxi that takes off vertically, from European developer CRISALION Mobility.
The taxis are still in development and will be capable of holding up to five passengers as well as the pilot.
This fleet will operate in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi with the service expected to be rolled out in 2030.
At speeds of up to 180km, it’s (obviously) significantly faster than a car on the ground and, with the vehicles being electric, they’re also a sustainable zero-emission alternative.
Designed with FlyFree technology, which allows taxis to move in all directions, the aircraft guarantees the utmost safety at all stages of flight.
Instead of a standard helicopter’s single-spinning rotor, the Integrity eVTOL will have 16 motors which will allow more control and safety when flying.
The agreement between the two companies was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow in England on Thursday July 25.
CRISALION Mobility General Manager Manuel Heredia says that the partnership opens doors in the MENA region for more air taxis.
He said: “Air Chateau has demonstrated a strong commitment to advanced air mobility, innovation, and technology as one of UAE’s leading aviation companies.
“This partnership opens not only the door to a strategic region for CRISALION but will also form part of Air Chateau’s approach to providing sustainable air travel services to its customers.”
And Air Chateau chairman Samir Mohamed says that this will provide more modern transportation options.
He said: “Our shared vision of transforming Advanced Air mobility (AAM) aligns perfectly with the needs of modern transportation in the urban and suburban settings.
“Through this partnership, we will not only enhance connectivity but also contribute to alleviating the burden on legacy ground infrastructure, complement existing transportation networks, reduce congestion and to build a sustainable future.”
If 2030 sounds like a long wait then don’t worry, we can expect traffic-busting flying taxis from the RTA to arrive in Dubai as early as 2025 as the final tests are carried out in California and the desert in the UAE.
A ride with the RTA JOBY flying taxi is expected to cost no more than a ride in an Uber Black and take roughly a third of the time that a car would to get across the city.
But, while we wait for plenty of flying taxis to arrive in Dubai, have you ever wondered why the roofs of RTA taxis are different colours? We’ve answered the age-old question here.
More Dubai transport news
Dubai has just developed two major marine lines (and rides are only Dhs2)
The prettiest way to get to major tourist spots
Dubai’s major transport updates for 2024 — however you choose to travel
Metro, buses and roads – everything you need to know
10 major road and RTA projects that will slash Dubai traffic
There might one day be a reason to stop beeping your horn
