Japan Airlines, Wisk Aero Partner to Launch Flying Taxi Service

The companies seek to deploy autonomous eVTOL aircraft into Japanese airspace.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, May 09, 2023 at 05:41 PM ET

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Wisk Aero’s Generation 6 self-flying eVTOL will be able to seat up to four passengers. [Courtesy: Wisk Aero]

Key Takeaways:

Japan Airlines (JAL) has partnered with Wisk Aero to develop and certify self-flying, all-electric eVTOL (air taxi) aircraft in Japan, aiming to establish autonomous aviation for commercial services.
This collaboration is part of a larger global movement, with numerous companies and airlines in both Japan and the U.S. pursuing similar eVTOL air taxi initiatives.
Regulatory bodies in the U.S. (FAA) and Japan (JCAB) are actively cooperating on certification and operational frameworks, with many companies targeting commercial launches around 2025.
Early eVTOL services are expected to be niche and expensive, with Wisk being one of the few focused on fully pilotless aircraft, indicating widespread adoption is still a long-term prospect.

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One of the largest airlines in the world could soon operate a line of self-flying aircraft.

On Tuesday, Mountain View, California-based Wisk Aero and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced a partnership that seeks to lay the groundwork for autonomous aviation. The companies are looking to certify and demonstrate Wisk’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Japan, working with that country’s government agencies to clear a flight path for air taxis nationwide.