Following a successful demonstration flight, Astana is set to become the first Central Asian city to introduce air taxis, reports Kazakhstan Today.
The Prosperity eVTOL aircraft, developed by Chinese manufacturer AutoFlight, carried its first passenger over a site as part of the Games of the Future event currently taking place in the Kazakh capital. Becoming the first of many to fly was Transport Minister, Nurlan Sauranbayev.
The launch of this innovative service is not only expected to revolutionise transport in the city, but also add to the touristic experience in the area, as there are plans to carry guests over the surrounding landscape, as well as to see cultural and historical sites.
The possibilities are endless; there is also the potential for this technology to be used for medical emergencies, the delivery of critical medical supplies, firefighting, logistics, and other urgent operations.
The Ministry of Transport announced the news, and guests from the media were able to witness the EH216-S production eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft perform its demonstration flight. The vehicle is capable of a top speed of up to 81 mph and a range of up to 22 miles on a single charge. It can carry two passengers.
The air taxis will not only be limited to the capital city, however. Such a service is expected to become an integral part of Alatau, the smart city under construction near Almaty, with commercial flights lined up to begin in 2028.
In conversation with Anadolu, AAAG Director of Investor Relations, Daniyar Uteulin, explained that this intiative is in its early stages:
“Kazakhstan is among the first 10 countries in the world developing and implementing this technology. In Central Asia, we will be the first.”
His ambitions are shared by Sergey Khegay, Chief Executive Officer of Alatau Advance Air Group Ltd. (AAAG), who was clear when he expressed his hopes for this project.
“Our goal is to make innovative air transport an integral part of Kazakhstan’s transportation system.”
