Exclusive and Shared Electric Flying Taxis: Evidence on Modal Shares, Stated Reasons, and Modal Shifts

A new study from researchers Nael Alsaleh, Tareq Alsaleh, and colleagues provides one of the first detailed looks at consumer demand for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, commonly called flying taxis. Conducted via a stated preference survey of 213 respondents in the United Arab Emirates, the research pits flying taxis against private cars, public transport, and ground taxis. The analysis considered variables like travel time, cost, distance, congestion, and trip purpose. The headline finding is that flying taxi services collectively captured 22.6% of all mode choices in the survey, indicating significant latent demand for this emerging technology.

The study reveals a crucial split between shared and exclusive flying taxi services. Shared eVTOLs achieved higher modal shares and were more responsive to changes in travel conditions, showing strength for moderate-distance trips, weekday travel, and leisure purposes. In contrast, exclusive (private) flying taxis maintained lower shares, decreased in popularity as distance increased, and were more associated with business and weekend travel. A key insight from the modal shift analysis is that current ground taxi users show the highest propensity to switch to shared flying taxi services, particularly if the cost of ground travel increases.

The research concludes that strategic pricing and service design are paramount for successful adoption. To promote shared flying taxis as a sustainable option, the authors recommend maintaining affordable pricing, ensuring clear cost differentiation from premium exclusive services, and prioritizing initial deployment in congested urban corridors and for medium-distance travel markets. This data-driven approach offers a roadmap for eVTOL operators and city planners aiming to integrate aerial mobility into the urban transport ecosystem.