First electric air taxis to fly in Singapore by 2023: Volocopter

Photographer: Wei Leng Tay / Bloomberg

Singapore will host the world’s first electric air taxi service by the end of 2023, according to Volocopter GmbH, which is developing the vertical take-off craft.

The German manufacturer is committed to starting operations within three years once it completes flight testing, evaluation and certification in collaboration with the city-state, it said in a statement Wednesday. Tickets for a 15-minute ride that cost 300 euros ($ 364) are on sale now.

Volocopter completed a demonstration flight over Singapore’s Marina Bay area in October last year, and the first trade route is likely to take tourists over the same district, offering spectacular views of the skyline, the company said. Subsequent services could include cross-border travel.

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

“Singapore is known for its leading role in the adaptation and life of new technologies,” said Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter, adding that local capabilities in battery research, materials science and route validation for operations autonomous will be fundamental to the project.

Volocopter, which features the computer chip maker Intel Corp. and automakers Daimler AG and Geely, as an investor, plans to establish a team of 50 pilots, engineers and operations specialists to support Singapore flights.

The ship will initially carry a pilot and a client, although services could change to two passengers once approvals for autonomous operation are received. Ticket prices should drop dramatically once flights become more available, according to Volocopter.

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