The UK Government wants to ‘maximise the benefits of future flight technologies’, a minister says
Flying taxis aim to offer ’emission-free’ travel in the UK(Image: Joby/Virgin Atlantic)
Mancunians could be jumping on board flying taxis in under three years, a transport minister says.
Aviation Minister Mike Kane told MPs the Government wants to “maximise the benefits of future flight technologies including flying taxis.”
It comes as the Government announced £20 million of funding last month to make everyday use of “commercial drones and flying taxi services” a reality.
The initiative involves the Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), supported by the new Regulatory Innovation Office, which aims to cut red tape to speed up new technology reaching the public.
Aiming to make the vision a reality is US company Joby Aviation, which announced in March its collaboration with Virgin Atlantic that aims to offer “seamless, zero-emission, short-range journeys across the UK”, starting with hubs at Manchester Airport and Heathrow.
The company’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph.
Journeys on flying taxis could include a 15-minute flight from Manchester Airport to Leeds(Image: Joby Aviation)
In response to Labour MP Alice Macdonald, who raised a scheme by Norwich airport that aims to make “make East Anglia the heart of aviation innovation”, Kane replied: “This Government wants to see the UK maximise the benefits of future flight technologies including flying taxis, both for the economy and for communities.
“We recently announced over £20 million of government funding to the CAA and the Future Flight Challenge to deliver the future flight programme this year.
“This joint programme between industry, Government and the CAA will enhance drone capability by 2027 and flying taxis by 2028 in the UK skies. I would be delighted to visit her and Norwich, the airport in her constituency.”
Tory shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon later claimed the Government’s Employment Rights Bill could “threaten passengers’ abilities to travel without disruption or additional costs”.
He said: “The Employment Rights Bill reduces the required notice period for strike action in any industry from 14 days to 10 days, increasing the risk of last-minute cancellations, which could in theory cost airlines tens of millions of pounds, which could in turn lead to higher costs for passengers as airlines pass the expenses on to the travelling public.”
Kane replied: “This Government will always put passengers first. That’s why more passengers than ever are flying in our skies and leaving our airports.”
Electric flying taxi journeys could be as cheap as minicabs, an aircraft manufacturer claimed(Image: PA)
Labour MP Graham Stringer, who was the chairman of Manchester Airport from 1996 to 1997, called on the Government to abolish air passenger duty.
He said: “Every study shows that the cost of the tax, or the revenue generated from the tax, is much less than the benefit of abolishing the tax.
“Will he and the Secretary of State go and try and talk some sense into the Chancellor of the Exchequer and their officials to get rid of this tax and benefit both aviation and the economy?”
Kane said airport passenger duty is “part of a rich mix of the aviation tapestry”, adding that “most airports and airlines are seeing demand go through the roof”.
With the announcement of the £20 million funding on April 1, Kane said: “I want the UK to have the most advanced aviation technology ecosystem in the world.
“That means creating a nimble regulatory environment and a culture of innovation so everyone can benefit from cutting-edge transport while tackling emissions, traffic and potentially saving lives.
“Our investment alongside the new Future of Flight industry group will bring together tech experts, drone operators, flying vehicle manufacturers and local communities to identify where change needs to happen.”