Ride Into Future: Singapore Set to Have First Electric Air Taxi Service by 2023

New Delhi: Singapore is going to have the world’s first electric-powered air taxi service by the end of 2023, according to Volocopter GmbH, the German manufacturer firm developing the vertical-takeoff craft. Also Read – No More Killing Animals? Singapore Becomes First Country to Approve Sale of Lab-Grown Meat

As per a Bloomsberg report, the company is committed to starting operations within three years once it completes flight trials, evaluation and certification in collaboration with the city-state, it said in a statement on Wednesday. Also Read – Woman Who Got COVID-19 During Pregnancy Gives Birth To Baby With Antibodies, Offers New Clues Regarding Infection

Tickets for a 15-minute trip costing 300 euros ($364) are already on sale. Also Read – Indian Worker in Singapore Charged For Violating COVID-19 Guidelines

Today, we made our first #city #committment in Asia! #Volocopter is committed to #launching our urban #airtaxi services in one of the most #innovative cities in the #world… #Singapore! @EDBsg @SingaporeCAAS: https://t.co/pKMU8BrOOE#eVTOL #UAM pic.twitter.com/m6x3iivvXv

— Volocopter (@volocopter) December 9, 2020

Volocopter completed a demonstration flight over Singapore’s Marina Bay area in October last year, and the first commercial route is likely to fly tourists over the same district, offering spectacular views of the skyline, the company said. Cross-border journeys could be added to the services later, it said.

Singapore is at the forefront of plans to introduce flying taxis, thanks to a more welcoming regulatory regime than in some other countries. While the craft could replace helicopters and light aircraft on some routes, they’d also be small and nimble enough to fly deep within cities and land with minimal space.

“Singapore is renowned for its leading role in adapting and living new technologies,” Volocopter Chief Executive Officer Florian Reuter said, adding that local capabilities in battery research, material science and route validation for autonomous operations will be central to the project.

Volocopter, which counts computer chip manufacturer Intel Corp. and automakers Daimler AG and Geely as investors, plans to set up a team of 50 pilots, engineers and operations specialists to support the Singapore flights.

The craft will initially carry a pilot and one customer, though services could switch to two passengers once approvals for autonomous operation are received. Ticket prices should fall sharply once flights become more widely available, according to Volocopter.

Obtaining necessary approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency will be a prerequisite for flights, the company said.