Kazakhstan: Air Taxi Service to Be First in Central Asia

Kazakhstan is preparing to integrate electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis into its transportation system. With this integration, it will become the first country in Central Asia to implement air taxi technology.

A demonstration flight was held at the Kazanat Hippodrome in the capital Astana. In collaboration with Alatau Advanced Air Group (AAAG) and the Chinese company AutoFlight, the "Prosperity" model eVTOL aircraft was introduced.

The introduced air taxi can carry one pilot and five passengers. The vehicle, capable of reaching speeds of 200 kilometers per hour, can cover approximately 200 kilometers on a single charge.

The air taxi service is planned to be implemented in Alatau, which is being built from scratch with a digital city concept.

"Kazakhstan Among Top 10 Countries Globally in This Field"

Daniyar Uteulin, Investor Relations Director at Alatau Advanced Air Group, stated that air taxi technology is in its development phase. He noted that the number of countries implementing this system globally is limited.

Uteulin stated that similar projects are being carried out in the USA, China, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and some European countries. Uteulin said, "Kazakhstan is among the top 10 countries developing and implementing this technology. In Central Asia, we will be the first country in this field."

Emphasizing that the air taxi project is an important part of Alatau's smart city vision, Uteulin stated, "The city is being built on new technologies. Air taxis are also a crucial component of the smart transportation system. Such projects will make Alatau more attractive to international investors."

First Commercial Flights by End of 2028 or Early 2029

Uteulin said that air taxis will initially serve commercial purposes. He noted that costs would decrease as the number of vehicles, the vertiport network, and flights increase. In the long term, fares are aimed to drop to the level of premium ground taxis.

It was noted that existing helicopter and airplane pilots would be utilized for pilot training instead of starting from scratch. Initially, training would be provided by the manufacturing companies.

The first commercial air taxi flights are planned to begin by the end of 2028 or early 2029. These flights will operate between Alatau, Almaty, and tourism centers in the Almaty region. Subsequently, the system is aimed to expand nationwide.

With new legal regulations that came into force this year, eVTOL aircraft, vertiports, and unmanned air traffic management systems have gained legal status in the country.