Flying Taxis To Take People To London Airports In Minutes From 2028

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Vertical Aerospace's new commercial eVTOL aircraft Valo is set to enter into service in the UK from 2028 following regulatory approval. — Photo: Vertical Aerospace/PA Media/dpa
LONDON: Electric flying taxis may become available to London airport passengers from 2028, a UK company has announced.
Vertical Aerospace hopes its Valo aircraft, which has a capacity for up to six passengers, can get regulatory approval in three years – with the first planned commercial routes to include airport-to-city centre connections.
Members of the public will get a chance to see the full-scale prototype at an open house in central London's Canary Wharf on Wednesday, the company said.
“Valo is the aircraft that turns electric flight into a commercial reality – clean, quiet, fast and engineered for everyday service,” Vertical Aerospace chief executive Stuart Simpson said in a statement on Wednesday.
“It marks a new dawn in transport, one that will connect people in minutes, not hours.”
The company plans to build seven certification aircraft in the UK to undergo final testing with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Valo should enter commercial service after obtaining the Type Certification, which is the regulated approval issued to new aircraft designs by regulatory bodies like the EASA and CAA to guarantee safety standards are met.
Designed to fly up to 100 miles at speeds of up to 240 km/h, Valo is expected to launch with a four-seat cabin, room for six cabin bags and six checked bags, panoramic windows, and a cockpit divider for privacy and safety, Vertical Aerospace said.
The aircraft’s design, however, allows expansion to six seats, with the potential to enable lower fares for passengers, the company added.
The aircraft could also support emergency medical services and cargo missions, according to Vertical Aerospace.
"Valo sets a new standard – bigger, safer and more capable than anything in the sector," Domhnal Slattery, chairman of Vertical Aerospace, said.
"It’s a breakthrough for aviation and a clear sign of the UK’s leadership in aerospace," he said.
"Valo embodies the best of Vertical – precision engineering, passenger-first design and deep collaboration with global aerospace partners – creating an aircraft with the most compelling operator economics." – PA Media/dpa

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