In a world where dreams can come true, Dubai is set to have flying taxis. A collaboration between three companies, including Eve Holding, a Brazilian electric aircraft manufacturer, Falcon Aviation Services, a United Arab Emirates-based charter flight operator, and Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, has resulted in the creation of 35 urban air mobility plans for the city. The first eVTOL taxi, which is an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, took off from The Palm, an upscale hotel in the city.
According to Ramandeep Oberoi, the chief operating officer of Falcon, the company’s partnership with Eve Holding and Embraer will help position Dubai as a global leader in the development of sustainable urban air transportation. The first eVTOL taxi is expected to be delivered in 2026.
According to a statement released by the companies, both Falcon and Eve will work with local authorities and stakeholders in the UAE to develop an urban air mobility ecosystem. This partnership comes as several start-up companies are working toward bringing a change to the short-haul travel industry.
At an event held in Berlin, the Volocopter, which is the world’s first fully electric helicopter, was showcased. It features a luxurious cabin and nine battery systems, and it can run on drone technology. It also has an emergency parachute and a fast-charging battery. The aircraft was also designed with robots that will replace its batteries before it flies.