Rome airport is expected to begin flying taxi services in 2024. Volocopter, which will supply the flying taxis, hopes to see the service in operation ahead of the 2024 Olympics to be held in Paris.

Rome airport

People visiting Rome airport may soon get a chance for an aerial trip over the Colosseum or the Pantheon.

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The Italian capital is all decided to welcome flying taxis in the next two years and is expected to start its first operation from the Fiumicino airport in Rome in 2024.

The flying taxis, to be delivered by a German company called Volocopter, will offer journeys into the city center too if the airport authority agrees to the idea and provides a go-ahead on schedule. This could mean a flight over Rome’s must-visit places.

This is why Volocopter aims to make the Fiumicino Airport in Rome an example for future projects in other cities as well.

The rotor-bladed, battery-powered electric flying taxi can seat up to two people at a time. It can take off and lands vertically. It is still under development, as the German startup recently showcased a prototype of the vehicle at the Fiumicino Airport.

Marco Troncone, the CEO at the Aeroporti di Roma (Rome Airport), said that the flying taxi will take around 15 minutes to travel between the airport and city center, which is half an hour less than compared to a car ride but surely will cost way more than the regular cabs.

Atlantia Chief Executive Officer Carlo Bertazzo poses for a photograph next to a prototype of an electrical air taxi by German company Volocopter during a presentation at the Fiumicino airport, in Rome, Italy, October 27, 2021. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Flying taxis is estimated to be around

The initial cost of a ride on these flying taxis is estimated to be around 150 euros (roughly converted to around ₹13,000). However, the company hopes that the fare will drop when the service picks up good business.

“The connection will be very swift. It will be a silent journey and … the level of emissions will be zero,” said Troncone.

The German startup of flying cars Volocopter was founded in 2011.

Christian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer of the company said that it is still waiting for a commercial air license from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).