Flying taxis could be heading for London as German aviation firm opens discussions with the City
Flying taxis transporting people around London could soon become a reality after a German aviation company said it was looking at how its autonomous vehicles could work in the City.
Volocopter unveiled its air taxi infrastructure for cities – including landing stations on top of buildings, hotels, at transport hubs and shopping centres – earlier this year.
The company told City PM that it had begun evaluating how the air taxis could work in London and had started conversations with city representatives around its implementation.
Staff at Oxford Airport, which specialises in business aviation and runs a helicopter shuttle to central London in under 25 minutes, met with Volocopter representatives earlier this month.
Following the discussion airport management said that urban air mobility was “closer than you might think” and urged city planners to explore how they could incorporate the technology.
The two-seater electric planes are currently being trialled in Dubai following backing from the city's Roads and Transport Authority.
The trial will allow the city's transport authorities to ensure the planes meet safety and security standards and also learn more take-off and landing points and develop laws and policy.
Volocopter has attracted high-profile investors such as Daimler and Intel, whose chief executive was the company's first ever passenger on a trial flight in Januarty.
Uber has also announced plans to launch its own urban air transportation by 2023 after partnering with NASA.
The firm said it planned to partner with Dallas and Los Angeles but was still looking for a third launch city.