Image Credit: EHang

EHang’s EH216-S pilotless air taxi has completed its first urban flight in Europe over the coastal Spanish city of Benidorm.

Part of the Eurocontrol’s U-ELCOME project, the demonstration saw the aircraft navigate a designated air corridor in Benidorm alongside 12 drones performing tasks such as surveillance and cargo transport. 

According to EHang, its fully autonomous, two-seater eVTOL is the first pilotless aircraft to demonstrate a flight in a European city under EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) regulations.  

The U-ELCOME project, involving 51 partners across Spain, France, and Italy, provides a platform for testing and refining UAM technologies. The project aims to integrate and validate Europe’s first U-space services, which will manage drone air traffic in urban environments. 

Spain’s air navigation provider Enaire managed the operation, ensuring the safe coordination of multiple autonomous aircraft alongside the Universitat Politècnica de València.

Gonzalo Alonso, Head of International Business Development at Enaire, described the test as “one of the most advanced demonstrations in Europe” for U-Space integration. 

“The first urban flight of the EH216-S air taxi in Europe, even without passengers, is a crucial step towards Urban Air Mobility. This milestone will accelerate the development of regulations, technology, and infrastructure necessary to make air taxis a reality within this decade,” said Israel Quintanilla, Director of the Official Drone Commission at Universitat Politècnica de València. 

Why Benidorm? 

Benidorm, a coastal city known for its high-rise skyline and tourism-driven economy, has emerged as an unlikely pioneer for UAM. 

Since 2016, the city has used drones for police operations, laying the groundwork for more advanced aerial systems. 

Yet, the city’s partnership with EHang is as much about economic development as it is about transport innovation, aiming to attract tech investment and position itself as a leader in next-generation mobility.

For EHang, which has already secured regulatory approvals in its home market, the flight is an opportunity to target Europe as a key growth region.

“These flights mark a major leap forward in integrating unmanned aircraft systems into urban environments. We are delighted to be part of the U-ELCOME project and to be working with Benidorm to advance the future of air transport,” said Victoria Jing Xiang, EHang’s COO for Europe and Latin America.