The Dubai-based private aviation operator Air Chateau has placed an order for 10 electric flying cars from European mobility solution provider Crisalion Mobility. Air Chateau will use these flying cars to launch air taxi services in the UAE by 2030, marking Crisalion’s first commercial partnership in the Middle East.
Crisalion’s Integrity air taxi, currently under development, can accommodate up to five passengers and a pilot. The Integrity air taxis, designed to travel at 180 kilometers per hour with a range of 130 kilometers on the existing battery technology, will revolutionize urban and intercity passenger and cargo transport.
Manuel Heredia, General Manager at Crisalion Mobility, stated, “Integrity aircraft will enter service in 2030. From that moment, we will start delivering our first units to our different customers.”
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are aggressively expanding into air mobility, with the introduction of air taxis expected to substantially reduce travel time. Joby and Archer Aviation are also in the process of launching their flying cars with UAE partners next year.
“Dubai is a key region for this kind of new mobility,” said Samir Mohamed, Chairman of Air Chateau. We greatly appreciate and are delighted by Dubai South and the UAE stakeholders for aligning us with their vision.
Following the launch in Dubai, Air Chateau plans to expand into other parts of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Europe. The UAE firm’s order of 10 Integrity air taxis at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 in the UK expands Crisalion’s conditional pre-order book to 125 aircraft in less than a year.
The two companies will jointly work to launch air taxis across major cities in the region, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The partnership may also extend to joint projects in Europe.
“This partnership opens not only the door to a strategic region for Crisalion but also forms part of Air Chateau’s approach to providing sustainable air travel services to its customers,” said Heredia.
Mohamed emphasized that the launch of air taxis will alleviate the burden on existing ground infrastructure, complement current transportation networks, reduce congestion, and build a sustainable future.
