Advanced Air Mobility Modern Flying News

Air Taxis Missed Paris Olympics Goal—Could They Soar in LA?

Air taxi manufacturers will have another opportunity to showcase their technology to the world at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Monday, August 12, 2024 at 03:09 PM ET

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Volocopter’s VoloCity eVTOL air taxi lifts off from the grounds of the Palace of Versailles outside Paris. [Courtesy: Volocopter]

Key Takeaways:

Volocopter's plan to launch commercial eVTOL air taxi services during the 2024 Paris Olympics failed due to delays in obtaining necessary type certification for its VoloCity aircraft and facing political opposition.
Despite the commercial setback, Volocopter successfully conducted two crewed test flights in the Paris region, including one over the Palace of Versailles, demonstrating operational validation and ongoing development.
Volocopter and Groupe ADP continue to develop vertiport infrastructure and aim for passenger flights over the Seine by year-end, signaling the industry's sustained efforts to introduce urban air mobility beyond the missed Olympic deadline.

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An electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer’s plan to turn the City of Light into the City of Electric Air Taxi Flights did not come to fruition.

Germany’s Volocopter last year hatched a plan with international airport operator Groupe ADP to ferry spectators around the 2024 Paris Olympic Games using its VoloCity air taxi, which would mark the aircraft’s commercial rollout. The firm even extended an invite to French President Emmanuel Macron, whose government approved the flights earlier this year, to be its first passenger.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.