To alleviate congested roadways, cities have tried everything from adding lanes and toll roads to imposing congestion fees during peak traffic hours. But there’s one solution they haven’t fully explored yet: taking to the skies.
Urban air mobility introduces an alternate, urban-friendly method of transportation, utilizing the airspace above cities to provide a faster, more sustainable means of getting around town.
Urban Air Mobility Definition
Urban air mobility is a method of transportation that makes use of airspace above an urban area to move people and goods. This is primarily done through electric vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft (eVTOLs) and drones.
What Is Urban Air Mobility?
Urban air mobility refers to air transportation systems that use small, typically electric aircrafts to move people and goods within an urban area. Making short-hop flights at low altitudes, this concept of city-centric air taxis have become popularized with the advent of drones and electrically powered vertical takeoff-and-landing aircrafts, known as eVTOLs.
Like helicopters, eVTOLs use quiet, electric propulsion systems to launch and land vertically, allowing them to operate emission-free, at low noise levels and within the limited confines of urban spaces — no runway necessary. Typically seating two to six passengers, they are designed for short-range, point-to-point transport between city hubs, offering services like ridesharing, emergency response and cargo delivery. Meanwhile drones are already being used in tasks like shipping and disaster relief around the world.
Eventually, the goal is to build out a sustainable urban air mobility (UAM) system that operates autonomously, with little to no human intervention.
Examples of Urban Air Mobility
The following companies are developing the first generation of air taxis, preparing urban air mobility for takeoff.
Joby Aviation’s S4
Joby Aviation is developing five-seat, electric air taxis that are “as quiet as a conversation” and as easy to hail as an Uber, according to the California-based company. Designed for short-hop flights, these six-motor vehicles can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge, and have a top speed of 200 miles per hour. Joby has partnered with Uber and Delta Airlines to deploy its air taxi service as early as 2025, first launching in Los Angeles and New York City.
Midnight by Archer
Archer’s Midnight line of all-electric eVTOLs are optimized for rapid back-to-back trips. With a top speed of 150 miles per hour, it can seat four passengers — plus one pilot — and can carry a 1,000-pound payload. Partnered with United and Southwest Airlines, these vehicles are set to launch in Los Angeles, New York City and Chicago in 2025.
The Lilium Jet
German company Lilium combines the convenience of eVTOLs with the speed of an airplane with its seven-seater jet. Its wings tilt downwards during vertical takeoff, and extend to a 14 diameter wingspan at cruising altitude. Aside from its 30 ducted, drag-reducing fans, the jet’s standout feature is that it’s designed for longer intercity and regional trips rather than standard short-hop flights.
VoloCity by Volocopter
Volocopter, a German urban air mobility manufacturer, develops multi-rotor eVTOLS. Its flagship air taxi, VoloCity, is a two-seater aircraft topped with an 18 router halo that’s designed to transport passengers between key transportation hubs. The company has completed over 2,000 test flights to date, and aims to provide a fully autonomous service in the future.
The EH216-S by EHang
Ehang’s EH216-S is the world’s first commercially certified eVTOL. The pilotless, two-seater aircraft has completed 40,000 test flights since its maiden voyage in 2016. Advanced sensors and AI-based algorithms enable the vehicle to autonomously navigate the skies, with a top speed of 80 miles per hour and a range of about 20 miles on a single charge.
Benefits of Urban Air Mobility
The active push to advance urban air mobility offers a wide range of potential benefits.
Reduces Traffic Congestion
By shifting short-distance travel from crowded roads to the air, urban air mobility could help alleviate the burden on traditional transportation systems. And with efficient, on-demand aerial transport, the number of vehicles on the ground would likely decrease, leading to smoother traffic flow and reduced travel times in urban areas.
Reduces Emissions
Urban air mobility vehicles, particularly eVTOLs, produce significantly lower emissions than traditional transportation methods, which make up 28 percent of carbon emissions in the United States. Unlike gas-powered cars and aircraft, these electric vehicles produce zero direct emissions, which can help lower urban carbon footprints and improve air quality in densely populated areas. NASA’s case study in Chicago found that UAM ridesharing could reduce emissions by up to 67 percent per trip.
Boosts Economy
Urban air mobility opens new market opportunities for manufacturers, operators and service providers, potentially driving job growth in the aerospace and tech industries, while improving general business efficiency by increasing connectivity to urban centers. The development of UAM infrastructure — such as charging stations and designated “vertiports” for takeoff and landing — could stimulate local economies through construction and maintenance projects, as well as attract investment in sustainable technologies.
Challenges of Urban Air Mobility
As an emerging technology, urban air mobility is a fairly new concept with its own set of obstacles.
Lack of Regulation
Regulatory bodies and government agencies have attributed delays in urban air mobility to a general lack of clear regulations. The challenge spans multiple areas — creating policy for manufacturers, pilots, operators, infrastructure — while also taking the public’s concerns and perception into consideration.
That said, progress is being made. In October 2024, Federal Aviation Administration reached a significant milestone with a final ruling that allows eVTOL aircrafts to share airspace alongside planes and helicopters. This decision comes two years after the new category for “powered lift” vehicles was re-introduced, and includes guidelines for pilot training and operation rules.
Needs to Integrate With Existing Infrastructure
Specialized facilities like vertiports and charging stations must be built with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure and surrounding communities before air taxis can be integrated into city life. Additionally, air traffic management systems for low-altitude flight would need to meet safety, regulatory and community acceptance standards for each area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an example of urban air mobility?
The most common example of urban air mobility are eVTOL air taxis like Joby Aviation’s S4 or Archer’s Midnight model, which enable electrically powered intracity flights to reduce congestion and travel time.
What is the difference between urban air mobility and advanced air mobility?
Urban air mobility focuses on short-range, intracity transportation using eVTOLs, while advanced air mobility takes a broader scope, covering both urban and regional transportation beyond city limits, often integrating longer-range and more diverse use cases.
What are the types of urban air mobility?
Urban air mobility encompasses different types of vehicles, including passenger air taxis for short urban commutes, cargo drones for logistics and emergency response aircraft for medical or disaster relief operations.
