US Approves 8 Air Taxi Pilot Programs Across 26 States
Updated
Updated · Morning Brew · Aug 2
US Approves 8 Air Taxi Pilot Programs Across 26 States
3 articles · Updated · Morning Brew · Aug 2
Summary
Eight Department of Transportation-approved pilot programs are set to test electric air taxis across 26 states, opening a path for US service as soon as this year in some locations.
eVTOL aircraft are designed to carry up to four passengers plus a pilot and cut airport trips sharply—Joby Aviation has demonstrated Manhattan-to-JFK flights in about 10 minutes versus more than an hour by car.
Initial fares are expected to resemble an Uber Black ride, with a JFK trip estimated as high as $150, though operators see costs falling to about $25 by 2030 if the market scales.
Los Angeles is targeting an air taxi network for the 2028 Olympics, while FAA officials say they want to move the industry forward quickly and China already has services operating in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
With China already flying air taxis, can U.S. companies overcome fierce patent lawsuits and infrastructure bottlenecks to launch commercial flights this year?
As air taxis promise 10-minute airport commutes, who will actually pay for the massive electrical grid upgrades required to keep them flying?
Will electric air taxis revolutionize urban commutes, or will crippling power grid demands turn them into an exclusive luxury for the ultra-rich?