China has officially become the first country in the world to approve flying taxis for commercial use, according to Adyrna, citing the South China Morning Post.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has granted licenses to two companies—EHang Holdings and Hefei Hey Airlines—to operate pilotless aerial vehicles for passenger transportation. This approval allows the companies to offer urban sightseeing tours and other air logistics services.
Currently, the most advanced vehicle in this market is the EHang EH216-S drone, which is capable of autonomously determining its route, navigating, and taking off and landing on its own. However, its flight time is limited to 25 minutes, and it can accommodate only two passengers.
Therefore, widespread adoption of flying taxis for urban transportation is still a long way off. For now, the technology is considered an exclusive service.
The Chinese government views this sector as a strategically important area and is paying special attention to its development. Alongside flying taxis, the country is also prioritizing the advancement of cargo drones, airships, and aeromobiles. These industries have been included in a list of key strategic areas, alongside biotechnology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and 6G mobile networks.
It is worth noting that the concept of urban air transportation is not new. In 1958, the Soviet Union launched a helicopter route between Simferopol and Yalta. Today, nearly 300 companies worldwide are working on flying taxi projects, with Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE among the leading players alongside China.
