Transportation officials in Denmark are taking a “build it and they will come” approach to the developing eVTOL air taxi market.
With several eVTOL startups planning to receive regulatory approval and begin transporting passengers within the next few years, Hans Christian Andersen Airport (EKOD) and Copenhagen Helicopter are working on infrastructure projects in and around Odense, Denmark, aimed at accommodating an expected fleet of electric-powered air taxis.
The companies said one of their goals is to build a vertiport atop the Odense Central railway station. Another is to attract eVTOL operators from other countries to Denmark and to bring a prototype aircraft to the country for testing later this year.
“I foresee that in a few years’ time you can take the light rail to Odense Station and from there take a flying taxi to Copenhagen or other Danish cities. Now is the time to start building a brand new infrastructure based initially on manned flying taxis that fly on green power and contribute to the government’s goal of achieving 100 percent green domestic transport by 2030,” said HCA Airport Chairman Kim Kenlev.
Denmark’s strategy appears to differ from that of many other countries where eVTOLs are under development but the infrastructure is uncertain. The country wants to be ready to support eVTOL traffic as soon as the aircraft are ready for passenger service, and to benefit from expected growth in the air taxi segment. While timing and coordination may differ among countries, similar infrastructure expansion is likely to be widespread.
“I see nothing stopping us from flying to cities like Gothenburg, Hamburg, or Berlin in the future. Advanced air mobility is high on the agenda everywhere, and these cities are within reach of these flying taxis,” Kenlev said.
Copenhagen Helicopter offers a range of transport services, including air taxi flights in traditional helicopters. The company said it has calculated that the advanced air mobility segment could grow to carry 84,000 passengers per day by 2035.
