FLYING TAXIS
ELECTRIC FLYING TAXIS TO HIT UK SKIES BY 2028 UNDER NEW GOVERNMENT PLAN
The UK government has announced a massive £46.5 million investment to fast-track the future of flight, aiming to get electric flying taxis into routine use across the country within the next two years. The funding, delivered through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is designed to cut through red tape and build the digital foundations needed for “advanced air mobility” to become a common sight by 2028. A significant portion of the cash will create a new tracking system - described by Security Minister Dan Jarvis as a “numberplate system for the skies” - which will allow police to identify drones and flying taxis in real-time. Aviation Minister
Keir Mather said the investment will “unlock barriers to growth that will create jobs, lower emissions and further the UK’s world-leading aviation reputation.” The push for flying taxis is part of a wider plan to modernise British airspace, with experts predicting the industry could be worth £103
billion by 2050. Industry leaders have welcomed the move, with Stuart Simpson, CEO of Vertical Aerospace, stating the investment is a “step towards positioning the UK at the leading edge” of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector. By streamlining the application process and speeding up safety approvals, the government hopes to make the UK a global hub for high-tech transport.
Sophie
O’Sullivan of the CAA noted that the current work is “laying the foundations for commercial operation in the future,” ensuring that when flying taxis do take off, they meet the highest possible safety standards.
Joby Aviation last month successfully completed a week of demonstration flights in New York City, marking a major step toward launching a commercial flying taxi service. The company’s electric aircraft travelled from JFK Airport to various heliports across Man- hattan, proving it could slash a one-hour commute in heavy traffic to a trip of less than 10 minutes. The flights are part of a special pilot programme aimed at speeding up the arrival of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology. These quiet, battery-powered craft are designed to beat city congestion
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ELECTRIC AIR TAXIS TAKE TO THE SKIES OVER NEW YORK IN LANDMARK TEST performance
metrics that are
by ferrying passengers directly to airports and urban hubs. Joby stated that the New York tests allowed them to fly “real flight routes and real environments in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.” The testing campaign is critical for measuring “acoustics and
critical to unlocking the urban aerial ridesharing market.” By showing that the aircraft can operate safely and quietly in a crowded city, the company moves closer to final government approval. International competition is heating up, with countries such as China and the UAE also racing to launch similar services as early as this year. In the U.S., major players are already lining up to support the technology; Delta Air Lines has already invested $60 million into a partnership with Joby to event- ually offer passengers premium air taxi transfers in New York and Los Angeles.
JUNE 2026 PHTM
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